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September 16, 2024
The 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League is back in action after a longer-than-two-week international break.
With the transfer window closing during the break, new signings and reshuffled squads have increased the anticipation for Matchweek 3, starting this Friday. Here’s a preview of the first three fixtures of the round.
Al Taawoun Club Stadium, Buraidah – Kick-off at 18:50
Rodolfo Arruabarrena might feel unlucky to have just three points from his first two RSL matches instead of four. Al Taawoun seemed poised to secure a draw against Al Ittihad in Matchweek 2. However, a 98th-minute penalty by Houssem Aouar led to a 2-1 defeat at King Abdullah Sports City, marking their first loss under the new manager.
On Friday, the Argentine might hand debuts to late-window signings Renne Rivas, Hattan Bahebri, and Lucas Chavez, who joins the game after representing Bolivia earlier this week.
Al Khaleej is also adjusting to a new manager, Georgios Donis, who took over the role. The former Al Fateh and Al Wehda manager had a strong start with a victory against Damac in Matchweek 1 but was defeated by the same scoreline in their recent home match against Al Shabab.
Donis has turned to a familiar market for his latest signings, bringing in Greeks Kostas Fortounis and Dimitrios Kourbelis to strengthen the midfield. Al Taawoun has never defeated Al Khaleej at home in the RSL, having tried five times. Will they manage to end that streak?
Damac Club Stadium, Khamis Mushait – Kick-off at 18:50
The other early kick-off on Friday features two teams still looking for their first points of the season. Damac began with a narrow loss to Al Khaleej and was unlucky in not securing a result against RSL champion Al Hilal in Matchweek 2. Despite leading 2-1 until the 73rd minute, Damac narrowly missed out on becoming the first team to defeat Jorge Jesus’ side in the league since May last year, as Al Hilal edged out a 3-2 victory.
Al Okhdood, on the other hand, were beaten 3-0 by Al Hilal in Matchweek 1 but found some positives in their subsequent match, despite a 1-0 loss to Al Ettifaq. This leaves new manager Stjepan Tomas searching for his first point with the club.
However, recent transfer window activity has significantly enhanced the Croatians’ attacking options, with Mali forward Ibrahima Kone and Cameroon striker Christian Bassogog joining the squad. Could this be the game where Al Okhdood finally scores, facing a Damac team that has not won in its last eight RSL matches?
Al Awwal Park, Riyadh – Kick-off at 21:00
One of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the season concludes Friday’s 00fixtures as Al Nassr takes on fellow title contenders Al Ahli. The Riyadh club hopes Cristiano Ronaldo maintains his impressive form. The Al Nassr captain has scored in both RSL games this season and continued his goal-scoring streak with Portugal during the FIFA break, reaching another significant milestone.
After dropping two points in Matchweek 1, Al Nassr quickly recovered with a decisive 4-1 victory over Al Fayha. Since then, they have strengthened their squad by adding Wesley Texeira, Mohamed Simakan, and Angelo Gabriel.
In contrast, Al Ahli was less active in the transfer market but made a splash in the final week with one of the summer’s most high-profile deals. What better way for England international Ivan Toney to make his mark in the RSL than with a match-winning debut performance following his move from Brentford?
Toney’s arrival will be a welcome boost for Al Ahli as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 loss to Al Fateh in Matchweek 2. With both teams leading the league in shots during the first two rounds of the season (Al Nassr with 47 and Al Ahli with 33), this match will surely deliver on its promise.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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