In the sixteenth round of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Ahli's first football team secured three valuable points with a 1-0 victory over Al-Kholoud. This match was more than just a passing phase; it underscored Al-Ahli's ambition to continue their climb towards the top of the table and solidify their technical stability amidst the fierce competition in the league this season.
Al Ahly player ratings details: Al-Sanby and Milut lead the way
The match statistics revealed a clear disparity in the performance levels of Al Ahly's players, with the defense playing a crucial role in keeping a clean sheet. The player ratings were as follows:
- The best performer: Goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi the list with a high rating of 7.6 , reflecting his crucial role in thwarting the opponent's attempts and securing the victory. He was joined in the same rating by striker Milot , who delivered a strong attacking performance that helped keep Al-Khulood's defense under pressure.
- Defense and Midfield: Turkish defender Merih Demiral a solid performance, earning a rating of 7.3 , which underscores his leadership role in the back line. On the wings and in midfield, Algerian star Riyad Mahrez and Atanga received a rating of 7.2 Ali Majrashi and Sulaiman both delivered balanced performances, deserving a rating 7 .
A decline in the level of some professionals
On the other hand, the match witnessed a relative decline in the ratings of some of the big names in the team's lineup, which may raise questions for the coaching staff about their physical or mental readiness at this stage:
- The defender Al-Hawsawi a rating of 6.7 .
- Galeno scored 6.6 .
- Ivorian Franck Kessie a low rating of 6.5 , which is below his usual average for controlling the midfield.
- At the bottom of the list is English striker Ivan Toni with a rating of 6.4 , as he struggled to convert chances or escape the tight defensive marking imposed by the Eternal players.
The importance of winning and the context of competition in the Roshan League
This victory is doubly important for Al-Ahli, not only because it strengthened the team's position in the standings, but also because it came at a time when the top teams need to accumulate as many points as possible before entering the crucial matches of the second half of the season. The Saudi League is currently experiencing a qualitative leap and unprecedented global attention, which makes the margin for error very small for the four major clubs with large fan bases.
Keeping a clean sheet, led by Sanbey and Demiral, is a positive indicator of the improvement in coach Matthias Jiesle's defensive system, while the low ratings of some of the attacking stars constitute a warning bell that calls for a technical review before the upcoming matches that do not allow for a draw, whether at the local level or other commitments.
