Hugely important day at bottom, Al Riyadh seeking bounce back | OneFootball

Matchweek 12 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League whips into action on Thursday, with plenty to play for towards the tail end of the table – where Al Fateh are most in need of a positive result.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Al Majma’ah Sports City Stadium, Al Majma’ah - KICK-OFF 17:45

The early kick-off on Thursday sees second-from-bottom Al Fayha host 13th-placed Al Orobah, with the home side eager to get their season back on track. Indeed, victory here would actually see they leapfrog Al Orobah on goal difference.

Certainly, Al Fayha need a win. Christos Kontis’ side have a solitary success in the RSL this campaign, and that was way back in Matchweek 5 – almost two months ago. Since, it’s been three defeats and three draws, with last week’s 1-0 reverse to Al Ahli making it successive league losses.

Al Orobah, meanwhile, have lost four on the bounce in the top flight, and five of their past six. The latest defeat arrived on Saturday - 3-1 at the hands of Al Raed. Just like counterpart Kontis, manager Alvaro Pacheco has found his first few months in the Kingdom to be difficult.

There is a personal prize on offer, too: Al Fayha striker Fashion Sakala has scored 22 goals for the club and needs one more to match the club's all-time RSL top scorers (Danilo Asprilla and Ronnie Fernandez).

Get your tickets for Al Fayha v Al Orobah HERE

Prince Hathloul Bin Abdulaziz Sport City Stadium, Najran - KICK-OFF 18:05

Staying at the bottom of the table, Al Okhdood in 14th entertain an Al Kholood side two spots and two points below them, meaning this match will go some way to ensuring who goes into next month’s winter break in better shape.

Al Okhdood grabbed their second win of the league season in Matchweek 9, a comprehensive 4-0 triumph against Al Orobah. However, they may have failed to build on that, losing next time out at Al Taawoun, although Friday’s 1-1 draw with high-flying Al Shabab means the mood is sure to be better going into this game.

For Al Kholood, their mini-revival since new manager Noureddine Ben Zekri’s appointment last month – they drew his first three matches, including a 3-3 thriller against Al Nassr – has halted with back-to-back defeats. The latest loss came on Sunday, in the 2-1 reverse at Damac.

The RSL debutants will thus be intent on bucking that trend as Ben Zekri returns to the club that last season he secured survival for, and will most probably look to striker Jackson Muleka. The Congolese frontman has contributed to four goals in his past four league matches, with two goals and two assists.

Al Fateh v Al Riyadh

Al Fateh Club Stadium, Al Ahsa - KICK-OFF 20:00

Thursday’s final fixture takes place in Al Ahsa, where the team rooted to the foot of the standings will bid once more to draw closer to those sides directly above them.

It’s been an incredibly testing welcome to the RSL for Jens Gustafsson, with the Swede appointed as manager the day the season kicked off. Since, there’s been eight defeats, with their standalone win achieved in surprise circumstances – a 1-0 home victory against Al Ahli in Matchweek 2.

Last time out, they lost to the division's other Jeddah outfit: a 2-0 reverse that kept Al Fateh bottom and moved Al Ittihad top.

Saying that, opponents Al Riyadh do not exactly land in Al Ahsa in sparkling form, either. The capital club won four from six games from the end of August to late last month, but since have gone without a victory in the league in four matches. Two of those have been defeats, albeit both were against two of the top three in Al Ittihad and Al Nassr. On Sunday, they held Al Ettifaq to a goalless draw at home.

Still, manager Sabri Lamouchi, a high-profile summer appointment, has had the best start in terms of points tally for an Al Riyadh manager who has led the team in at least 10 RSL matches, with 15 after 11 matches. The Frenchman surpasses Odair Hellmann's 11 points in the same number of matches.