Al-Ahli's first football team is preparing for a crucial and highly anticipated match when they host Al-Fayha this Tuesday evening at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, as part of the twelfth round of the Saudi Professional League. This match holds particular importance for Al-Ahli, who are eager to appease their fans and quickly return to winning ways.
Al Ahly's motivations and the challenge of key absences
Al-Ahli enters the match with one goal in mind: securing all three points, especially after their recent setback and first league defeat against Al-Fateh, which left them with 19 points in fourth place. The Jeddah-based team hopes to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to bounce back from this setback and maintain their chances of competing for the league title amidst the fierce competition at the top of the table.
Al-Ahli's coaching staff faces a significant challenge due to the absence of three key players: Algerian star Riyad Mahrez, Ivorian Franck Kessié, and Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, all of whom are on international duty with their respective national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite these significant absences, Al-Ahli relies on the depth of its squad, which boasts a number of international and local stars, including English striker Ivan Tony, Turkish defender Merih Demiral, and Brazilian Roger Ibañez, in addition to promising young talents like Ziyad Al-Juhani and Ali Majrashi.
Head-to-head history and team statistics
Historically, Al-Ahli holds a clear advantage in its head-to-head encounters with Al-Fayha in the Saudi Professional League. The two teams have met 12 times previously, with Al-Ahli securing victory in 7 matches, while Al-Fayha managed only one win, and 4 matches ended in a draw. Al-Ahli's attacking prowess is evident in these encounters, having netted 21 goals against Al-Fayha, while conceding only 6.
Al-Fayha's ambitions and the team's situation
On the other hand, Al-Fayha is experiencing inconsistent form, currently sitting in tenth place with 12 points. They haven't tasted victory in their last two matches, having lost to Al-Ettifaq and drawn with Al-Hazm. Al-Fayha, who will also be without their Zambian star Fashion Sakala, will be aiming for a positive result at Al-Ahli's home ground to secure their position in the safe zone of the league table. They will be relying on experienced players such as English defender Chris Smalling and Panamanian goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
The importance of the match in the context of the Saudi League
This match comes at a time when the Saudi League is experiencing tremendous growth and unprecedented global viewership, making every game a major sporting event. A win for Al-Ahli would keep them in the top four and put pressure on the league leaders, while for Al-Fayha, the match represents an opportunity to prove themselves against one of the league's giants. This encounter underscores the rising level of competition in the Roshan League, where there are no longer any easy matches, and mid-table teams are now capable of challenging the big clubs, further enhancing the excitement and appeal of the competition.
