Final Four: Enrique, Aouar, Toney, Benzema & keys to King's Cup semis | OneFootball

A compelling couple of King’s Cup semi-finals are set to take place on Wednesday, with four Roshn Saudi League clubs vying for a place in the showpiece.

We’ve history-makers, the reigning RSL and cup champions, and a pair of top-flight title challengers, so it really can’t get much more mouth-watering.

Check out our breakdown and the key factors heading into what promises to be another night filled with must-watch action.

The Breakdown

Al Kholood, enjoying only their second season in the RSL, continue to rewrite the record books as they contest the King’s Cup for the very first time in their history.

To do so, the Ar Rass side have seen off a couple of RSL rivals in Al Najmah and Al Khaleej; against the latter, in the quarter-finals, it took a massive 4-3 win against an in-form Al Khaleej to seal a spot in the last four.

However, Al Kholood come into the match on the back of one victory in their past five in the RSL, losing most recently to Al Hazem in the Ar Rass Derby. They sit 14th in the table, six points above the relegation zone with eight rounds remaining.

Key Man: Ramiro Enrique

What a debut campaign the summer signing from Major League Soccer is having. Enrique has 18 goals in all, while only four players have found the net more than his 15 times in the RSL this season.

In the King’s Cup, Enrique got the match-winner in both the Round of 32 and then in extra-time in the last 16 against Al Najmah, while he opened the scoring in that dramatic quarter-final clash at home to Al Khaleej. The Argentine clearly loves the cup.

The Breakdown

Al Ittihad have made a brilliant defence of their King’s Cup crown thus far, the champions dispatching RSL opponents in every round until now.

They opened their bid to retain the trophy with a 1-0 win in the Old Derby with Al Wehda, before a memorable 2-1 victory away at RSL leaders Al Nassr. In the quarter-finals, Karim Benzema inspired Al Ittihad to rebound from a goal down to thump Al Shabab 4-1.

While their King’s Cup defence has been exemplary, Sergio Conceicao’s side haven’t matched that in the RSL. At present, the title-holders lie sixth in the table, 18 points off the top four, having lost their past two outings 3-1.

Key Man: Houssem Aouar

The Algeria international, so crucial to last term’s double success, hasn’t enjoyed the best of second seasons as injury has disrupted his impact.

Aouar has only three goals in 16 RSL appearances through 2025-26 - he scored 12 in 30 the previous campaign - however, his equaliser in last month’s Saudi Clasico reminded he remains a man for the grand occasion.

That can be seen, too, in his winner in the King’s Cup last 16 at then-unbeaten Al Nassr, or indeed in last season’s final against Al Qadsiah.

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Al Ahli vs Al Hilal

The Breakdown

As reigning Asian champions, Al Ahli are fighting on multiple fronts this season. The Jeddah giants are third in the RSL, five points off the summit, while they’re through to the last 16 in the Asian Champions League Elite, also.

In the King’s Cup, Al Ahli have been prolific, racing out of the gates with a 5-0 win at second-tier Al Arabi before, in the last 16, they dispatched another First Division outfit Al Batin RSL side 3-0.

However, Matthias Jaissle’s men were made the work in the quarter-final, coming through a see-saw set-to against Al Qadsiah. There, they were 2-0 down but rallied to eventually prevail on penalties.

Al Ahli come into the encounter with Al Hilal having just seen their RSL winning streak stop at five - in the most dramatic of circumstances, at Al Qadsiah.

Key Man: Ivan Toney

The RSL’s lead marksman is also top scorer in the King’s Cup, with five goals en route to the semi-finals.

Toney, second in the race for the golden boot last season to Cristiano Ronaldo, has netted 25 times in the competition this campaign, while he has scored in every round of the King’s Cup, including a hat-trick in the Round of 32. For sure, Toney's crucial to Al Ahli’s triple chance of silverware.

The Breakdown

Like Wednesday’s opponents, Al Hilal are still battling on three fronts, the 2023-24 RSL champions second in the current standings - they are three points back from Al Nassr - and into the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Elite.

To get this far in the King’s Cup, Al Hilal had to eke out 1-0 wins against second-tier Al Adalah and then the RSL’s Al Okhdood, before cruising to a 4-1 triumph in the quarter-finals at home to Al Fateh.

Simone Inzaghi’s side have won their past three matches, scoring 10 times, as they keep up the pressure on Riyadh rivals Al Nassr at the top of the RSL.

Key Man: Karim Benzema

It’s hard to look past the Ballon d’Or winner given both his evergreen talent and his pedigree in the King’s Cup.

Benzema was the star of the final last year, scoring twice for Al Ittihad to defeat Al Qadsiah and complete a superb double. This season, Benzema has four goals, albeit all with Al Ittihad, including a hat-trick in the quarter-final.

The Frenchman, the RSL's high-profile winter signing, has five goals in as many league appearances for Al Hilal.