Jeddah Joust: Toney, Kessie, Fabinho, Aouar lead key battles in Sea Derby | OneFootball

There’s no such thing as an inconsequential Sea Derby. Such a concept simply doesn’t exist.

Whenever Al Ahli and Al Ittihad meet, the stakes are always high. But then there are games where the derby feels even that little bit more important, and this week’s clash falls into that category.

With Al Ahli pushing hard to land a drought-breaking Roshn Saudi League title, the division’s second-placed side will recognise taking all three points from their rivals is critical.

And how Al Ittihad, the current RSL champions, would love to be the ones to deliver a sizeable blow to those trophy ambitions.

With so much to play for, we’ve set out the key battles for Friday and where the game could be won or lost.

Check out how the season's first Sea Derby unfolded - in pictures

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Dogged defences

This match pits the team with the best defensive record in the competition - Al Ahli, 15 goals conceded in 24 matches - against the side with the worst of the top five.

But, while Al Ittihad have leaked 28 goals thus far, they’ve improved in that area of the park, conceding twice or more only once in their past six games to tighten up overall. Much credit, therefore, should go to colossus Danilo Pereira.

But against this Al Ahli, the Al Ittihad attack (more below) will have their work cut out. Few have been able to penetrate the Asian champions’ backline, but with Merih Demiral expected to sit out, perhaps that offers a glimmer of hope for Conceicao’s men. Not that Brazilian brick wall Roger Ibanez would agree.

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Franck Kessie vs Fabinho

We’ve already highlighted the importance of Valentin Atangana and Mahamadou Doumbia this week, but there’s at least one other midfield match-up that will be just as crucial.

Alongside Doumbia is captain, and former Liverpool star, Fabinho, who is once again leading with example for Al Ittihad. In direct opposition, though, is Franck Kessie, the African champion who continues to prove pivotal to the Asian champions.

Paired with Doumbia and Atangana, in a quartet that comprises the two veterans and two starlets, whoever comes out on top will control the contest - and, from that, probably goes some way to winning the match.

Ahead of those four is where the creativity is provided, and in compatriots Houssem Aouar and Riyad Mahrez, this encounter features two of the very best the RSL has to offer.

Mahrez continues to be one of the brightest stars in the division for both chances created and assists, with 65 and seven, respectively, this term.

While the Algeria superstar leads the way there, comparatively there is little else that separates him from national teammate Aouar, who proved so crucial to Al Ittihad’s title success last season.

Aouar and Mahrez have each scored three goals this campaign and have similar numbers when it comes to passes and shots. Local bragging rights thus far, though, go to the latter: Mahrez struck the winner in the season's first Sea Derby.

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Galeno vs Moussa Diaby

Watching these two wingers at full flight is something special, and both will be keen to make their mark in the latest all-Jeddah scrap.

Diaby and Galeno have had slightly underwhelming campaigns compared to their peak performances last season, but you feel still that each remain absolutely crucial to the attacking function of their sides.

While their output hasn’t reached last season’s heights, 2024-25 assist-machine Diaby ranks No.1 at Al Ittihad in that category (six) while Galeno, so good for Al Ahli on debut last term, comes in joint-third there (three).

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Ivan Toney vs Youssef En Nesyri

This is a blockbuster battle between the current league’s head striker in Toney, and the newcomer who would love to take his mantle.

Toney has been imperious for Matthias Jaissle’s side this season, the 2025-26 RSL top scorer leading the line expertly with 23 goals and five assists to his name to leave him on track for a rare 30-goal season.

Despite arriving in Jeddah only last month, En Nesyri has made an impact of his own, with three goals in six games in all competitions, including in his second RSL appearance. Not bad, considering he’s given the task of filling Karim Benzema’s boots.

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Matthias Jaissle vs Sergio Conceicao

The fantastic Al Ahli tactician is currently the longest-serving manager in the RSL, while his Al Ittihad counterpart represents one of the freshest having arrived only weeks into the 2025-26 campaign.

Both, however, are astute tactical minds, as Conceicao illustrated in the recent Saudi Clasico. Last month, in the high-profile clash at Al Hilal, the champions were able to overcome having Hassan Kadesh sent off on nine minutes to still control large portions of the contest.

Having lost the corresponding Sea Derby earlier this campaign - admittedly, it marked only his fourth RSL match - the former FC Porto manager will be intent on revenge. Especially when Conceicao is trying to avoid becoming the first Al Ittihad head coach to lose his first two Jeddah derbies.

Jaissle, meanwhile, is chasing a slice of personal history in what would constitute his fourth win in six RSL games against Al Ittihad, equalling the record for the greatest number of victories for an Al Ahli coach in this match-up. That’s currently held by title-winning manager Christian Gross.

It won't be lost on Jaissle, then, that his Swiss predecessor is the last man to guide Al Ahli to the championship. With the Jeddah heavyweights two points off the summit, victory on Friday will have the club's current crop dreaming of a repeat.