Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens this Wednesday evening as Al-Ahli hosts Al-Taawoun at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah in a highly anticipated match, concluding the 15th round of the Saudi Professional League. This game carries significant weight as it represents a crucial turning point in the competition for the top spots in the league standings.
The battle for second place and exploiting the stumbles of rivals
Both teams enter the match with a "win or bust" mentality, each seeking to capitalize on Al-Nassr's recent stumble and loss to league leaders Al-Hilal. Al-Ahli, playing at home, aims for their fourth consecutive victory to reach 31 points, which would put them level on points with both Al-Taawoun and Al-Nassr, intensifying the competition for second place and bringing them closer to the top of the table.
On the other hand, Al-Taawon realizes that returning with the three points from Jeddah will give it a golden opportunity to take sole possession of second place with 34 points, and widen the gap with its pursuers, thus confirming its worthiness as one of the strongest competitors this season and its ability to compete with the big clubs.
Head-to-head history: Al-Ahly dominance and a prolific goal-scoring record
Looking at the statistics and history, the two teams have met 28 times in the Saudi Professional League, with Al-Ahli holding the advantage. They have won 12 matches, while Al-Taawoun has only managed 6 victories, and 10 matches ended in a draw. In terms of goals, their encounters have been high-scoring, with Al-Ahli's attack netting 53 goals, while Al-Taawoun's attack has found the net 40 times, promising an open and attacking match.
Al-Ahly's squad is complete with the return of the stars
Al-Ahli is experiencing a period of technical stability after overcoming the setback of their loss to Al-Fateh, achieving a series of consecutive victories that have restored the fans' confidence. The team's strength is further bolstered today by the return of key players, most notably Algerian star Riyad Mahrez and Ivorian Franck Kessié, following their international duty with their respective national teams.
These stars join the team's arsenal packed with international and local names, such as Turkish defender Merih Demiral, Frenchman Valentin Atangana, his compatriot Enzo Melot, English striker Ivan Toni, as well as Brazilians Roger Ibanez and Wenderson Galeano, along with influential local players such as Firas Al-Buraikan, Ziyad Al-Juhani and Saleh Abu Al-Shamat.
Cooperation... an ambition that defies absences
On the other hand, Al-Taawoun enters the match with high morale after overcoming their loss to Al-Ittihad with a valuable victory over Al-Shabab. Despite the team missing their Gambian star Musa Barrow and Frenchman Romain Faivre due to injury, the coach is relying on a strong collective system and distinguished players capable of making a difference, led by Brazilian Gerotto and his compatriots Maëlson and Flavio, Dutch midfielder Ashraf Al-Mahdioui, Colombian Roger Martínez, in addition to Mohammed Al-Kwikbi and Waleed Al-Ahmad in the back line.
