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October 9, 2024

Riyad Mahrez Must Reignite Form for Al-Ahli to Revitalize Their Season

Riyad Mahrez must find his top form if Al-Ahli is to turn around their struggling season. After moving from Manchester City to Al-Ahli in August 2023, the former winger topped the Saudi Pro League with 13 assists and scored 11 goals, playing a crucial role in helping his team finish third, which was a commendable feat for a newly promoted side.

As this season began in August, the expectations were high, with ambitions of competing for the league title and claiming a trophy by the Red Sea. However, just a few weeks in, those aspirations appear increasingly unlikely.

Al-Ahli suffered a shocking home defeat in the King’s Cup, the premier domestic tournament, against a team at the bottom of the second tier. This disappointing result was exacerbated by a lackluster league performance. Only seven points were collected from their first six matches, leaving them 11 points behind the leaders.

As they head into the international break, manager Matthias Jaissle is understandably concerned about the team’s current situation. For Al-Ahli to reignite their season, Mahrez must return to the form that made him a standout performer in the league last year.

Mahrez has also come under fire because he hasn’t yet scored or assisted in any league games. Former Hilal and Libyan midfielder Tarik El Taib has made disparaging remarks about his attitude in addition to remarks regarding his weight. Mido is a forward from Tottenham. Mahrez, who has participated in every game, provided an explanation on social media following Al-Ahli’s 4-2 victory over Damac last month: “The team achieved a good result, and I am very happy, but in the past two matches, it was difficult for me, as I am sick with bronchitis and I need to rest a little before I reach my best levels and make you proud.”

Mahrez also faced backlash for his comments about Al-Ahli not receiving the same level of support in the transfer market as the other members of the “Big Four.” Alongside their Jeddah rivals Al-Ittihad and the Riyadh giants Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli was taken over by the Public Investment Fund in 2023. His remarks did not sit well with many pundits, some of whom advised him to focus on his own performance. Former player Mido pointed out that Mahrez’s transfer fee of around £30 million and his reported annual salary of approximately £40 million accounted for a substantial portion of the club’s expenditures.

If Al-Ahli’s results had been better, these issues would likely have been less significant. However, even at this early stage of the season, it is clear that their title hopes are fading. The Asian Champions League now represents their best opportunity for success, mainly after Mahrez had his best game of the season last week, scoring and assisting in a 2-0 win in Dubai.

Once part of a dominant Manchester City team, Mahrez now finds himself in a Saudi Arabian league where dropping points is not an option, especially against the formidable Al-Hilal. In their latest match last Saturday, Al-Ahli initially took the lead in front of 60,000 home supporters but ultimately lost to Al-Hilal, who have now won all six of their league games.

Al-Hilal is looking incredibly strong this season. The 19-time champions have set a world record with a winning streak of 34 games this year and boast an impressive record of 39 wins. Just three draws in their last 42 league matches, scoring in 69 consecutive games. To highlight their dominance, Al-Ahli has dropped more points in their first five games of the season than Al-Hilal has in their last 42.

It’s still early in Riyad Mahrez’s partnership with Ivan Toney, who has scored twice in four league appearances since joining Brentford in August. Meanwhile, Aleksandar Mitrovic has been in sensational form, netting nine goals in six games this season after scoring 28 last year. The Serbian forward is nearly unplayable at times.

Neymar’s absence isn’t significantly felt. He expected to return swiftly from a cruciate ligament injury sustained last October. Still, he hasn’t been registered for the first half of the league season. His comeback doesn’t seem imminent, but head coach Jorge Jesus remains unfazed, thanks to the outstanding form of Mitrovic, Rúben Neves’s creativity, and the solid defense led by Kalidou Koulibaly and Ali al-Bulaihi. When needed, Yassine Bounou is always ready to make crucial saves.

What about Cristiano Ronaldo, who set a record with 35 goals last season? This year, he witnessed the firing of his fellow Portuguese, Luis Castro, replaced by Stefano Pioli as head coach at Al-Nassr. The difference under Pioli is evident; where the team once relied heavily on individual stars, they now function more cohesively, with defensive errors that plagued them last season primarily eliminated. They’ve conceded just three goals so far, the lowest in the league.

Al-Ittihad is also performing well, winning every match except for their defeat to the league leaders. Karim Benzema has scored seven goals this season and appears more settled and dangerous under the guidance of fellow Frenchman Laurent Blanc.

Al-Ahli, particularly Mahrez, has significant work ahead if they aim to compete with the rest of the “Big Four.”

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