Beat The Drop: Keys to escaping rollercoaster relegation run-in | OneFootball

While the title race continues to fascinate, of equal interest is the battle at the other end of the table as teams look to avoid relegation.

With Al Najmah bottom and 14 points clear of safety with eight rounds remaining, the Roshn Saudi League debutants clearly have the most difficult path to safety.

Yet just above them, there's plenty of intrigue. Deeming Al Fateh to be likely safe - the Al Ahsa side are nine points above the drop zone - it leaves perhaps four more clubs striving to remain in the top flight next season.

Here we rule the rule over that quartet, and what they need to avoid dropping down a division.

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14th - Al Kholood (25 points)

History-making owner Ben Harburg declared safety as the target for this season and, while Al Kholood are still not completely safe, they sit six points clear of safety with more than double the wins of any team below them. But they can ill-afford to be complacent.

Don’t lose focus: With a first-ever King’s Cup final on the horizon - something few thought possible at the start of the campaign - Al Kholood cannot afford to lose track of their RSL quest. Indeed, especially considering they’ve a tricky run of fixtures, including matches against top-five teams Al Hilal and Al Taawoun.

Ramiro Enrique: Simple as that. The Argentine forward has been fantastic this season since arriving from Orlando City in MLS, with 15 goals already. If the re-hot diminutive forward keeps scoring, Al Kholood will most probably keep racking up the points.

Tighten the defence: Al Kholood have kept only three clean sheets this term, meaning they’ve conceded 48 goals across the other 23 games, which is a worrying stat. Having conceded 12 in their past six in the RSL, Des Buckingham’s men cannot afford to be giving away two goals a game and expect to get results.

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15th - Damac (22 points)

Undefeated in their past three, with back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Damac have found a little bit of form at exactly the right time. As such, it has allowed them to jump three points clear of relegation. The challenge now is staying there.

Damage limitation: Not only do Damac have more points, they boast a better goal difference than those below them. But with tests against triple title challengers Al Ahli, Al Qadsiah and Al Hilal in three of their next four, they have their work cut out. Picking up unexpected points, or keeping games close, could be decisive.

Build from back: Of all the teams in the bottom five, it’s Damac that possess the best defensive record. And while conceding 42 in 26 games is still a concern, keeping four clean sheets ranks them mid-table. Therefore, being meaner than those around them gives them a solid base to build from.

Momentum: With back-to-back victories for the first time since November 2024, Damac found form at the right time. They might rue the timing of the international break but, if they can carry forward that momentum, it will hold them in good stead - especially given the daunting schedule.

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16th - Al Riyadh (19 points)

Two wins in their past five, including an unexpected 3-1 win against Al Ittihad last time out, has given life to Al Riyadh’s survival hopes - both of which have come since Mauricio Dulac was promoted to managing the first team.

Carry the momentum: Although the upcoming matches are against upwardly trending Al Shabab and Al Ettifaq in the space of four days, if Al Riyadh can maintain momentum from that Al Ittihad victory, they could well find themselves climbing clear of the relegation zone.

Home Form: Three of Al Riyadh’s four wins this season have come on their own patch. With three of their four remaining home games against teams in the bottom half of the table, it might just prove the difference between survival and not.

Antunes to the rescue: Leandro Antunes has been a revelation since joining late in the winter transfer window, bagging four goals in seven games, including in both victories against Al Kholood and Al Ittihad. Clearly, his obvious quality up front is just what Al Riyadh needed.

With four goals in seven matches, Leandro Antunes is crucial to Al Riyadh's survival hopes

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17th - Al Okhdood (13 points)

You feel critical time has arrived at Al Okhdood, who lie seven points away from safety and, with eight games remaining, the Najran outfit have simply got to get wins - fast.

New coach bounce: Having won only two of 14 games with Romanian Marius Sumudica, Al Okhdood have thrown one last roll of the dice, replacing him with Fathi Al Jabal, who famously guided Al Fateh to a remarkable top-flight title back in 2013.

If he can save the club, now on their third manager of the season, it might represent an even bigger feat.

Six-pointers: Half of Al Okhdood’s remaining fixtures come against sides around them in the table: Al Fateh, Damac, Al Kholood and Al Riyadh. If they can take maximum points from those, not only do they collect valuable points, but they also take them off their nearest challengers.

Find the net: Aside from keeping out goals (57 conceded in 26 matches), Al Okhdood’s biggest issue has been scoring; they hold the worst record in the league, at 22 goals. Of course, you can only win by finding the net, so it’s an area Al Jabal must urgently fix.