Saudi football fans eagerly await the highly anticipated match between Al-Ahli and NEOM FC, part of the 18th round of the Roshan Professional League. This match holds particular significance as it will be held at NEOM Stadium in Tabuk at 8:30 PM tomorrow, Saturday, where Al-Ahli will be looking to build on their recent resurgence and continue their climb towards the top of the league table.
Al-Ahli's expected lineup for the Neom match
Al Ahly's coaching staff has largely settled on the starting lineup for the match, with the squad seeing the return of key players who should bolster the team's strength across all positions. Al Ahly is expected to start with the following formation:
- Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy.
- Defense line: Ali Majrashi, Rogerio Ibanez, Mohammed Sulaiman, Zakaria Hawsawi.
- Midfield: Franck Kessie, Ziad Al-Jahani, Matheus Gonçalves.
- Attack line: Riyad Mahrez, Galeno Wenderson, Ivan Toni.
The return of the trio and its artistic impact
The starting lineup receives a huge morale and technical boost with the return of the towering Senegalese goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, who was absent recently due to his national team commitments and participation with Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations. Mendy's return is a crucial asset for the Jeddah team, given his vast experience in decisive matches.
Young defender Mohammed Bakr Sulaiman will also feature to replace the injured Turkish defender Merih Demiral, while Brazilian Matheus Gonçalves returns to bolster the midfield and attack after recovering from the injury that sidelined him for the last match against Al-Khaleej. This triple return gives the coach more tactical options to control the game against an ambitious opponent like Neom.
The context of the competition and the importance of winning
Al-Ahli enters this match buoyed by their resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Khaleej in the previous round, a win that restored confidence to both the fans and the players. This match comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing unprecedented and fierce competition, thanks to the influx of international talent that has made the Saudi league a focus of global attention. Therefore, dropping any points at this stage could negatively impact the team's chances of qualifying for Asian championships or competing for the title.
The expected attacking lineup, featuring Algerian star Riyad Mahrez and English striker Ivan Toni, reflects Al-Ahli's clear desire to decide the match early and take advantage of half-chances, especially in light of the great development witnessed by the Kingdom's clubs and the great support for the sports sector, which has made away matches extremely difficult and requiring high mental focus throughout the ninety minutes.
