Football

Mohammed Al Abdali seized his moment after guiding Al Taawoun to the AFC Champions League Two quarter-finals via a dramatic penalty shootout win against Qatar's Al Wakrah. The caretaker manager, who took over in January following Rodolfo Arruabarrena's dismissal, used his post-game platform to advocate for Saudi coaches who have historically struggled to secure opportunities in the Roshn Saudi League (RSL). "The Saudi people are more than capable to achieve in all fields," Al Abdali declared passionately. "I saw a lot of media outlets showing no confidence in Saudi coaches over the past few days and their abilities." He continued: "My message... is to have some confidence in Saudi coaches. I'm not talking about myself personally. Let's say Mohammed Al Abdali is a bad coach, but not all Saudi coaches are bad, so you have to place some confidence in […]

Al Ittihad midfielder Fabinho praised his team's "champion" spirit after they moved closer to securing the Roshn Saudi League title following a crucial night of action on Monday. The league leaders received a significant boost before their match with Al Ettifaq when second-placed Al Hilal dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Al Shabab in the Riyadh Derby. Al Hilal had recovered from Daniel Podence's early strike to lead 2-1 through goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al Dawsari, but Mohammed Al Shwirekh's 68th-minute header earned Al Shabab a valuable point. Al Ittihad then took the field knowing victory would extend their lead to six points with just five matches remaining. Despite conceding in the fifth minute when Vitinho's deflected shot beat goalkeeper Mohammed Al Mahasnah, Laurent Blanc's side responded quickly. Six minutes later, Houssem Aouar's corner found Karim Benzema […]

Al Shabab entered this Roshn Saudi League season with considerable optimism after showing promising signs under Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira during the final stretch of the previous campaign. Despite losing Croatia legend Ivan Rakitic, the Riyadh club retained talented Saudi prospect Musab Al Juwayr on loan. They strengthened their roster by signing RSL star Abderrazak Hamdallah, experienced Europeans Wesley Hoedt and Giacomo Bonaventura, and exciting winger Daniel Podence. These additions created what appeared to be a competitive squad. Al Shabab began impressively, securing seven wins and two draws in their opening 13 RSL matches. However, momentum halted when Pereira departed for the English Premier League in mid-December, leaving a significant void in the club's on-field leadership. The club rebounded by appointing former Turkey national team manager Fatih Terim, though adjustment took time. The team alternated between wins and losses for […]

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered a dramatic late winner as Al Qadsiah overcame Al Nassr 2-1 on Friday night, breathing new life into their pursuit of a top-three finish in the Roshn Saudi League. At Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium, the hosts took the lead in the 35th minute when Turki Al Ammar reacted quickly to convert a rebound, putting Al Qadsiah in control against the league's third-placed team. The advantage lasted until the 84th minute when Sadio Mane equalized for Al Nassr, seemingly shifting momentum toward the visitors who appeared poised to maintain their grip on third place and potentially close within five points of league leaders Al Ittihad. However, just three minutes later, Aubameyang rose above two Al Nassr defenders to meet Nahitan Nandez's looped pass with a powerful header that found the back of the net, sending the home […]

Al Ittihad's advantage at the top of the Roshn Saudi League has been reduced to four points following a night of significant developments in the title race on Thursday. Defending champions Al Hilal applied pressure with a commanding 3-0 home win against Al Khaleej earlier in the evening. Captain Salem Al Dawsari found the net twice while Aleksandar Mitrovic added another goal to complete the victory. With their lead shrinking, Al Ittihad then suffered an unexpected 2-0 defeat at Al Fateh. The table-toppers, who had lost just twice in their previous 27 league matches, fell behind in Al Ahsa when Amine Sbai scored after 10 minutes. Matias Vargas extended Al Fateh's advantage midway through the second half. Both teams missed opportunities from the penalty spot during the match. Mourad Batna's attempt at Al Fateh was disallowed after he made contact […]

Following last season's close second-place finish to Riyadh rivals Al Hilal, Al Nassr identified key positions requiring reinforcement. While striker Jhon Duran arrived in winter and defensive reinforcements came through Mohamed Simakan partnering Aymeric Laporte, perhaps their most crucial signing was finding a replacement for departing goalkeeper David Ospina. Despite having promising Saudi goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi, the club looked abroad, ultimately signing 25-year-old Brazilian Bento from Athletico Paranaense. With over 150 appearances in Brazil and a national team cap under interim coach Fernando Diniz, Bento represented the ideal profile – experienced yet still developing, with his prime years ahead. While some viewed Europe as Bento's natural destination, the goalkeeper embraced the Saudi challenge. "I think there is a bit of prejudice against the Saudi league; just look at who plays there," Bento previously stated. "The level is the same, […]

At just 21 years old and in his first season in the Roshn Saudi League, Robert Renan has displayed remarkable maturity by mentoring a fellow Brazilian newcomer at Al Shabab. The defender, on loan from Russia's Zenit St Petersburg, has been a standout performer in his debut Saudi campaign, missing only two league matches. Renan has integrated perfectly into the team, becoming essential to Al Shabab's pursuit of a top-four finish. With seven rounds remaining, Fatih Terim's side currently sits sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Al Ahli. Beyond his on-field contributions, Renan has taken on another important role. When Al Shabab signed 20-year-old Brazilian Leandrinho during the winter transfer window on loan from Vasco da Gama, the center-back stepped up to help his compatriot adjust to life in Saudi Arabia. Leandrinho has clearly valued this support. "I like being here; […]

It stands as one of the most unexpected results in the Roshn Saudi League this season. Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia's record-setting champions, had established an unprecedented 46-match unbeaten streak in the competition. During this remarkable run, which delivered both the RSL title and King's Cup, they had assembled 34 consecutive victories – a sequence so impressive it earned recognition from Guinness as a world record. Al Hilal topped the RSL standings once again, with a second straight championship seemingly within their grasp. However, on November 23 at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium, their dominance crumbled. Under former Al Hilal manager Georgios Donis, Al Khaleej secured a stunning 3-2 victory. As halftime approached, the hosts trailed 2-0, with Marcos Leonardo and Aleksandar Mitrovic capitalizing on assists from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al Dawsari – further evidence of Al Hilal's attacking prowess. […]