MW16 Talking Points: Al Nassr rebound, 5-star Al Qadsiah, Al Khaleej cruising | OneFootball

We hardly had time to catch our breath from a pulsating Matchweek 15, but Matchweek 16 was another captivating round of action in the Roshn Saudi League.

With season-shaping results at either end of the table, there were no shortage of narratives and storylines to absorb… and not much time to absorb them.

But, with Matchweek 17 just around the corner, here’s what caught the eye from Matchweek 16.

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Al Nassr stay in title hunt

After an inexplicable three defeats in a row, Al Nassr needed to respond and respond they did, although they didn’t have it all their own way.

With the gap to Al Hilal having edged out to seven points after last week’s Capital Derby, Al Nassr knew nothing less than a win in another all-Riyadh clash against Al Shabab was required. And, after only eight minutes, they seemed all set: by then, they were two goals up.

While Al Nassr had to survive a scare when Al Shabab got level at 2-2, they showed a level of resolve that had been absent in recent weeks to - temporarily - reduce the margin to four points and stay in the title fight.

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Outside of perhaps Al Qadsiah (more on them soon), are Al Khaleej the league’s great entertainers? The Saihat-based club fly somewhat under the radar, not only compared to the bigger clubs in Riyadh and Jeddah, but also those others on the East Coast.

But with Greek great Georgios Donis guiding them, Al Khaleej are turning on the style, with their 4-1 win against Al Okhdood the sixth time - yes, sixth - they have scored four goals in a game this term.

Joshua King is now second in the golden boot standings, while Konstantinos Fortounis, with seven goals and an incredible 10 assists, has the most goal contributions in the entire league.

Only the top two of Al Hilal and Al Nassr have scored more goals and, while their position of eighth in the table perhaps doesn’t catch the eye, Al Khaleej are only one win away from jumping into the top six - ahead of the likes of Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad.

Having seen Al Nassr eke out a victory, Al Hilal knew they needed to win at NEOM Sports Club to maintain their advantage at the top of the standings.

At half-time in Tabuk, they were staring down a 1-0 deficit, which could easily have been more. However, like they did in the Capital Derby, the league leaders responded like potential champions do, with two second-half goals to prevail 2-1.

It is a resolve that is almost a part of the DNA at Al Hilal; they always find a way, as evidenced by the fact they’ve won 16 points from losing positions this season. That’s more than double the next best.

As we move now to the halfway point of the season, it is what puts Simone Inzaghi’s side, who have won 12 on the bounce in the RSL, in pole position to reclaim the title they landed in 2023-24.

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Al Qadsiah the team to watch

Al Hilal might sit at the summit, but there is a case to be made - a very strong one, in fact - that Al Qadsiah are currently the best team in the league.

While they have an eight-point deficit to make up to their Riyadh rivals, since the arrival of manager Brendan Rodgers that have looked irresistible, putting another five past Al Hazem - the second time in as many games they have scored as many.

In six games since Rodgers arrived promising a more attacking brand of football, Al Qadsiah have five wins and a draw, scored 20 goals and conceded only five. Plus, they have the biggest differential between their xG (26.4) and actual goals (36), at 9.6.

They may sit fifth, but Rodgers’ rampant side are only one point off second.

Al Ittihad's defence hits hurdle

Having suffered another defeat this round, the most daunting thing for Al Ittihad might just be the identity of their next opponents: Al Qadsiah.

The 1-0 loss at home to Al Ettifaq was a hammer blow for Sergio Conceicao’s men, who now drop six points behind Al Qadsiah - a gap that, obviously, could widen depending on the result of their match on Thursday.

With the champions trailing Al Hilal now by 14 points, not only does Al Ittihad’s title defence appear run, but they're fighting to get into the top three and earn a coveted spot in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.

After being crowned champions so brilliantly last season, it would represent a bitter pill to swallow for the Jeddah giants.