Al-Ahli's first football team is preparing for a tough and important match against Neom, as part of the 18th round of the Saudi Professional League. This match is of particular importance to Al-Ahli, who are looking to continue their winning streak and strengthen their position in the standings. However, the team faces the challenge of absences that could affect the options available to German coach Matthias Jäissle.
Al-Ahli's list of absentees against Neom
It has been officially confirmed that Al-Ahli will be missing several key players in their upcoming match at Neom Stadium in Tabuk. Leading the list of absentees is Turkish international defender Merih Demiral , a cornerstone of the team's back line, due to a recent injury that has prevented him from participating in group training and previous matches. This presents the coaching staff with a challenge in compensating for this significant defensive absence.
In a related development, the squad is missing another player, Valentin Atangana , but this time due to a purely technical decision by coach Mathias Jiesle. Atangana's exclusion comes as clubs adhere to the Professional League's regulations regarding the number of foreign players allowed in a matchday squad, forcing the coach to choose from among his foreign players to select the most tactically suitable lineup for the match.
A morale boost and competitive ambitions
Al-Ahli enters this match with high morale, buoyed by their strong performance in the previous round, where they secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Al-Khaleej. This win not only earned the team three points but also restored confidence among the players and fans in the team's ability to deliver attacking and entertaining football.
This match comes at a time of unprecedented competition in the Saudi Professional League, both domestically and internationally, as top clubs strive to accumulate as many points as possible to secure their places in Asian competitions and compete for the title. Al-Ahli understands that dropping any points, especially against newly promoted teams or those competing in the middle of the table, could prove costly in the final standings, making a victory in Tabuk a pressing demand from both fans and management.
Coach Yassleh seeks to take advantage of the good technical condition of the team's available stars to compensate for the absences, and to impose his style of play from the first minutes to ensure a return to Jeddah with all the points, and to continue the march towards the top of the league in an exceptional season full of challenges.
