Al-Ahli will be aiming for all three points when they host Al-Hazm on Thursday evening at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. The match is crucial for both teams, as Al-Ahli seeks to maintain pressure on the league leaders, while Al-Hazm hopes for a positive result to improve their position in the standings.
Historical background and context of the competition
Historically, Al-Ahli holds a clear advantage in its head-to-head encounters with Al-Hazm. The two teams have met 15 times in the Saudi Professional League, with Al-Ahli winning 11 matches, compared to Al-Hazm's single victory, while three matches ended in a draw. This record reflects the difference in resources and history between the two clubs. Al-Ahli is one of the giants of Saudi football and the most decorated club in terms of titles. This season, they returned to the top flight with high ambitions after a brief stint in the First Division.
The importance of the match and its expected impact
For Al-Ahli, currently high in the standings, dropping any points is unacceptable, especially at home in front of their fans. After a string of consecutive victories, the team is eager to return to winning ways quickly to maintain their title hopes and stay close to Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. Any slip-up could widen the gap with the top teams and weaken their chances of achieving one of their main objectives this season: qualifying for the AFC Champions League.
On the other hand, Al-Hazm enters the match fully aware of the difficulty of the task, given their inconsistent results this season. Nevertheless, achieving a positive result against a team of Al-Ahli's caliber would provide a tremendous morale boost for the players and solidify their position in the middle of the table, distancing them from the complexities of relegation. Therefore, the team is expected to adopt a well-organized defensive approach, relying on swift counter-attacks to try and surprise the home side.
Stars in the field
Al-Ahli boasts a constellation of world-class stars capable of deciding a match at any moment, led by Algerian Riyad Mahrez , Brazilian Roberto Firmino , and the speedy French winger Allan Saint-Maximin Franck Kessié forms a formidable force in midfield, while Senegalese Edouard Mendy security in goal. Meanwhile, Al-Hazm pins its hopes on some talented players in its ranks, such as Portuguese playmaker Tozé and striker Faiz Sulaimani , who possess the ability to make a difference.
