What to expect in Roshn Saudi League’s matchweek 26
Roshn Saudi League’s matchweek 26 begins on Monday.
Key details for all seven fixtures – Damac v Al Hilal has been moved because of the latter’s AFC Champions League finals commitments – are below:
AL NASSR V AL KHALEEJ
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Second-placed Al Nassr should feel determined to strike after Al Ittihad’s slip.
A potential six-point gap with six games left has turned into three matches with five games left. Cristiano Ronaldo’s vast experience should be crucial, down the stretch.
14th-placed Al Khaleej will, however, be buoyant after two-successive wins propelled them out of the relegation zone.
The quality of Albania striker Sokol Cikalleshi and Portugese winger Fabio Martins is starting to tell.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: Al Nassr have triumphed in their last six home matches. Victory at Al Fayha ended a five-match losing run on the road.
WHEN: 19:00 KSA; Monday, May 8, 2023
WHERE: Al Awal Park at King Saud University, Riyadh
AL ADALAH V AL WEHDA
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 15th-placed Al Adalah are back in the drop zone and eager for points.
A spell of one win in six league outings has allowed Al Khaleej to overtake them. Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson’s goal threat is key.
13th-placed Al Wehda are also sitting nervously.
This week’s King’s Cup finalists are now only two-points outside the bottom two. Morocco goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi’s shot-stopping skills should be required.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: Al Adalah have won two of their prior four fixtures on home soil. It is seven matches since Al Wehda last prevailed.
WHEN: 19:00 KSA; Monday, May 8, 2023
WHERE: Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium, Al Ahsa
AL ITTIHAD V ABHA
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Leaders Al Ittihad require victory to get back on track and assuage fears of repeating 2021/22’s painful run-in.
2-1 defeat at Al Taawoun was unexpected. A run of five five home league wins from six matches will help.
Abha should be feeling securing in 10th.
Victory versus Al Adalah, secured by irrepressible Tunisia playmaker Saad Bguir, has opened up a healthy nine-point gap to the drop zone. They can now play with freedom throughout the remaining matchweeks.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: The loss at Al Taawoun terminated Al Ittihad’s six-match winning streak. Abha have been beaten in their last seven away run-outs.
WHEN: 21:30 KSA; Monday, May 8, 2023
WHERE: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
AL TAAWOUN V AL RAED
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Al Taawoun head into their latest Al Qassim Derby in fifth after a solid victory against first-placed Al Ittihad.
Fahad Al Rashidi was the hero with a brace when his employers ended a five-match winless period.
11th-placed Al Raed will feel confident their top-flight status was all-but secured with a win versus Al Batin.
Moroccan forward Karim El Berkaoui netted the fourth-fastest hat-trick of the Pro League era in that contest.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: Al Taawoun have ended a six-match wait for home victory. Al Raed have triumphed in one of their prior six away outings.
WHEN: 19:00 KSA; Tuesday, May 9, 2023
WHERE: King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Buraidah
AL FAYHA V AL FATEH
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 12th-placed Al Fayha will feel they require one-more win to be safe.
Vuk Rasovic’s quest to achieve this is hampered by a return of one point from the last 15 available. Nigeria’s Anthony Nwakaeme and North Macedonia’s Aleksandar Trajkovski are key up top.
Sixth-placed Al Fateh are determined to return to winning ways.
It took a moment of genius from Al Shabab’s Ever Banega to defeat them, last-time out. This result finished a spell of four wins from five away matches in Roshn Saudi League.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: Al Fayha are enduring a four-match winless streak at home. Al Fateh have prevailed twice in their prior six outings.
WHEN: 19:00 KSA; Tuesday, May 9, 2023
WHERE: Al Majma’ah Sports City Stadium, Al Majma’ah
AL BATIN V AL TAI
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 16th-placed Al Batin must start stringing victories.
3-1 defeat to Al Raed has opened up an eight-point gap to safety. Saudi Arabian forward Yousef Al Shammari leads the way with seven top-flight strikes.
Seventh-placed Al Tai harbor hopes of gatecrashing the top five.
Their enviable front line of Algeria’s Amir Sayoud, Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona and Congo’s Guy Mbenza must keep firing to achieve this.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: Al Batin have repeated a sequence of win/lose for their last eight matches. Al Tai have lost just once in their previous nine fixtures.
WHEN: 19:00 KSA; Wednesday, May 10, 2023
WHERE: Al Batin FC Stadium, Hafar Al Batin
ETTIFAQ V AL SHABAB
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Ninth-placed Ettifaq will hope for a response after defeat to neighbours Al Khaleej.
This reversal ended a return of seven points from the previous nine matches.
Third-placed Al Shabab must prevail to keep up in the title race.
Banega’s beautiful free-kick secured impressive victory last-time out against Al Fateh.
CURRENT ROSHN SAUDI LEAGUE FORM: Ettifaq have won five of their last seven home games. Al Shabab have failed to prevail in the last three away outings.
WHEN: 19:00 KSA; Sunday, May 14, 2023
WHERE: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam