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October 8, 2024
RIYADH: Although this marks the second FIFA international break of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League season, the first break came so early in the campaign that this feels like the first real opportunity to reflect on the initial matches.
It’s often said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. After an astonishing undefeated season in 2023-24, during which they dominated every opponent, champions Al-Hilal entered this campaign with a massive target on their backs. Many hoped that this relentless force might slow down after the grueling exertions of last season.
However, any notion of that has been thoroughly dispelled after just six matches, as Jorge Jesus’ squad stands alone with a perfect 100 percent record. There is a remarkable resilience and confidence within Al-Hilal that the league has arguably never witnessed before.
While they are not entirely invulnerable—the Riyadh side has conceded six goals so far, which is more than Al-Nassr, Al-Shabab, Al-Qadsiah, and Al-Taawoun, and they have kept only two clean sheets—they consistently demonstrate an unshakeable belief in their ability to come back, whether they score first or fall behind. A prime example was their thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Damac in Matchweek 2.
With a long season still ahead, discussions are already shifting toward the possibility of Al-Hilal maintaining their remarkable unbeaten streak—currently at an extraordinary 42 RSL matches—and achieving the seemingly impossible feat of going undefeated in back-to-back campaigns.
One of the standout stories from the opening six matches of the season has been the resurgence of former champions Al-Ittihad, who claimed the 2022-23 Roshn Saudi League title. Last season was a disappointing title defense for the Jeddah giants, finishing fifth and falling well out of contention for the crown. However, after a period of introspection and significant investment in the squad, World Cup winner Laurent Blanc was appointed manager, taking over from Marcelo Gallardo.
Al-Ittihad underwent a substantial squad overhaul to mark this new era, introducing younger and more dynamic players such as Moussa Diaby, Houssem Aouar, Steven Bergwijn, and Mario Minaj. However, the most crucial aspect of this transformation has been the return to the form of captain and talisman Karim Benzema. After a mixed debut season in the RSL, where he made 21 appearances and scored nine goals, the seasoned French striker has netted seven times in just six matches this campaign. This impressive performance places him second in the scoring charts, just behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has nine goals and has nearly matched his entire tally from last season already.
Al-Ittihad’s resurgence is mirrored by Al-Shabab, which also experienced a difficult season last year. At one point, they found themselves in a relegation battle before finishing eighth. Their revival began with the appointment of Vitor Pereira in February, and retaining the Portuguese manager has proven to be a significant move for the club.
With a considerable turnover from the previous season, the new arrivals—including RSL legend Abderrazak Hamdallah, Serie A veteran Giacomo Bonaventura, Dutch defender Wesley Hoedt, and enterprising Portuguese winger Daniel Podence—are also contributing to the team’s success. Heading into the two-week hiatus, Al-Shabab boasts four wins from six league matches, placing them fourth in the standings and just three points shy of second place.
There was a considerable buzz in the pre-season—justifiably—about Al-Kholood’s inaugural campaign in the Roshn Saudi League. However, the transition to the top tier has proven challenging for the team from Ar Rass. Despite an ambitious recruitment drive to prepare for the competition, Paulo Duarte’s side has struggled to leave its mark, managing only one win and four points from its first six matches. This includes a narrow opening-round loss to Al-Ittihad, a game in which they were notably unfortunate to come away empty-handed.
Al-Kholood has slipped into the relegation zone after losing back-to-back matches against Al-Hilal and Al-Khaleej in the last two match weeks. When the league resumes, they will be eager to escape the bottom three.
In contrast, fellow newcomers Al-Qadsiah and Al-Orobah have had a more favorable start. Al-Qadsiah, in particular, was always expected to perform well, given their significant investment during the summer transfer window. Their squad now boasts high-profile players, including former Real Madrid captain Nacho, seasoned striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang—who has played for Arsenal, Barcelona, and Marseille—Belgium international goalkeeper Koen Casteels, in-demand Uruguayan midfielder Nahitan Nandez, and Mexican forward Julian Quinones. Additionally, they secured the talented Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez and versatile Uruguayan defender Gaston Alvarez, along with a group of skilled Saudi players, notably national team defender Qassem Lajami.
This ambition led Al-Qadsiah to secure consecutive victories in the opening two matchweeks. Although their form has been somewhat inconsistent since then, they sit sixth with three wins, two losses, and one draw. Importantly, Aubameyang has found the net in the league, hinting at more goals to come from the decorated striker.
Meanwhile, newly promoted Al-Orobah has accumulated seven points from six matches, positioning itself comfortably in mid-table—a commendable return for Alvaro Pacheco’s team.
When Cristiano Ronaldo shattered the all-time single-season goalscoring record last season with 35 goals, few anticipated that this remarkable tally would soon be challenged. However, Al-Hilal’s Serbian sensation, Aleksandar Mitrovic, has different plans. The prolific striker, who finished as the runner-up to Ronaldo for the 2023-24 Golden Boot with 28 goals, has ignited the campaign with an impressive nine goals in just six matches. It could have easily been ten, but one of his strikes against Al-Riyadh was officially ruled an own goal by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Referees Department.
While maintaining a scoring rate of 1.5 goals per game over an entire season seems nearly impossible, Al-Hilal is showing no signs of slowing down, averaging three goals per match. This means Mitrovic will have ample opportunities to chase down Ronaldo’s record. His overall Roshn Saudi League tally stands at an impressive 37 goals from just 34 appearances—genuinely phenomenal.
Three-time Saudi champions Al-Ahli were mainly under the radar last season, remaining out of the title race dominated by Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr but comfortably ahead of the competition to secure a third-place finish. Now, with England international Ivan Toney in their ranks, Matthias Jaissle’s squad aimed to at least replicate their impressive 2023-24 performance in their first season back in the top flight, if not improve upon it and contend for the title.
However, after the opening six rounds, the Jeddah club appears far from the form that saw them thrive last season. With three defeats already, they find themselves 11 points off the pace. A home victory against Al-Hilal would have provided the perfect boost before the international break. Still, despite taking the lead through Spanish talent Gabri Veiga, Mitrovic’s second-half brace saw the defending champions secure all three points.
This leaves Jaissle with many questions during the break, especially as Al-Ahli currently sits 10th in the standings. Nevertheless, with star players like Veiga, Franck Kessie, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Feras Al Buraikan, and Toney in the lineup, there is plenty of talent to help the club regain its footing.
By their own incredibly lofty standards, Al-Nassr deemed their start to the season—one win and three draws from four matches across all competitions—insufficient and required a change of manager. So, with three RSL match weeks in the books, Luis Castro was out, and Stefano Pioli was in.
The Italian, who guided AC Milan in 2021-22 to a first Serie A title in over a decade, has proved an inspired appointment, with Al-Nassr reeling off five wins on the bounce. Three of those have come in the Saudi top flight, to the tune of eight goals scored and none conceded.
As usual, Ronaldo has been pivotal, the Portuguese superstar taking his season’s tally to five goals in six RSL appearances. The club captain has been ably supported by Sadio Mane, who, after a modest debut campaign in the Kingdom, has been a player reborn this term. Although the Senegal international opened his goal account only in Matchweek 6 with a brace against Al-Orobah, he has contributed five assists — second only to Al-Ittihad’s Diaby.
With Pioli in place and Ronaldo and Mane firing, Al-Nassr has moved up to third in the table. It bodes well for when the RSL returns on Oct. 18. Is this the capital club’s year?
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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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