Al-Ahli Saudi Club received a painful blow before its anticipated match against Al-Shabab, as part of the twenty-second round of the Saudi Professional League, as it was officially confirmed that its defensive rock, Turkish player Merih Demiral, will be absent from this important football summit hosted by Al-Shabab Club Stadium.
Demiral, a key player in Al-Ahli's defense, will be absent due to his failure to reach full fitness following a recent injury. Based on medical and technical reports, German coach Matthias Jäissle decided to exclude the player from the squad traveling to Riyadh, preferring not to risk him and to give him more time to fully recover, thus avoiding any future setbacks that could affect the team's performance at this crucial stage of the season.
General context and importance of the match
This match is of paramount importance to both teams in the context of the fierce competition in the Roshan League this season, which has witnessed unprecedented media and fan interest thanks to the attraction of top international stars. Al-Ahli, currently third in the standings, aims to secure a victory to solidify its position, close the gap with the league leaders, and guarantee a spot in the next edition of the AFC Champions League. Any slip-up could open the door for its rivals to reduce the points difference.
On the other hand, Al-Shabab is looking to improve its position in the league table and return to winning ways, especially since the match is being played at home in front of its fans. Historically, matches between Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab are always characterized by competitiveness and excitement, as they bring together two of the Kingdom's top clubs with large fan bases.
The impact of Demiral's absence and the potential replacement
Since joining Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023 from Atalanta, Demiral has formed a solid defensive partnership with Brazilian Roger Ibañez, contributing his physical strength and European experience to the team's defensive stability. His absence will pose a real challenge for coach Jysle, who has decided to field young player Rayan Hamed to fill the void and play alongside Ibañez. This will be a true test of Hamed's ability to handle pressure in such an important match, especially against Al-Shabab's well-organized attack.
Al-Ahli had achieved an important victory in the last round against Al-Hazm with a score of two goals to nil, in a match that was held at Al-Inma Stadium, and the team seeks to continue its positive results to maintain its momentum in the fierce competition for the top positions in one of the strongest seasons of the Saudi League in history.
