In an unexpected result, Al-Ahli were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-of-the-table Al-Hazm in their 21st round match of the 2023-2024 Saudi Professional League. This result deals a blow to Al-Ahli's ambitions of catching league leaders Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, and makes the title race even more difficult.
General context of the match and the season:
Al-Ahli enters this season with high ambitions after its swift return to the Pro League and the bolstering of its squad with high-profile international signings during the summer transfer window, such as Algerian Riyad Mahrez, Brazilian Roberto Firmino, Ivorian Franck Kessié, and Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. These massive investments have positioned the team as one of the leading contenders for the title, or at least to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League. In contrast, Al-Hazm is having an extremely difficult season, currently languishing at the bottom of the table and fighting to avoid relegation, making every point earned, especially against top teams, feel like a victory.
Details and events of the meeting:
Despite Al-Ahli's expected dominance on the field, the team struggled to break down Al-Hazm's well-organized defense, which played with high tactical pragmatism. Al-Ahli opened the scoring through their star player Riyad Mahrez, but Al-Hazm refused to give up and managed to equalize, forcing a result that was not what Al-Ahli fans had hoped for, as they had expected a victory to keep the pressure on the leading teams.
The importance and impact of the result:
Domestically, this draw represents a significant loss of two valuable points for Al-Ahli, widening the gap between them and league leaders Al-Hilal and second-placed Al-Nassr. This puts added pressure on the team and coach Matias Jäissle in the upcoming rounds to get back on track and avoid dropping more points. For Al-Hazm, however, securing a point against one of the league's giants is a huge morale boost for the players in their fierce battle to avoid relegation. Regionally, this result underscores the rising competitiveness of the Saudi Professional League, where match outcomes are no longer predetermined, and lower-ranked teams are now capable of upsetting the big clubs and disrupting their progress, thus enhancing the prestige and strength of the competition at the continental level.
