Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens tomorrow evening, Thursday, as Al-Ettifaq's first team travels to King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah to face Al-Najma in a crucial match for the 14th round of the Saudi Professional League. This encounter holds particular significance for both sides, given their contrasting ambitions and motivations at this critical juncture in the league season.
The two teams' positions in the standings
Al-Najma enters the match in dire straits, both technically and psychologically, languishing at the bottom of the table with a mere two points. The statistics paint a stark picture of their struggles this season, having yet to taste victory, managing only two draws and suffering ten heavy defeats. In contrast, Al-Ettifaq enjoys relative stability, occupying eighth place with 19 points, accumulated from five wins, four draws, and three losses, placing them firmly within striking distance of the continental qualification spots.
Differing ambitions: between survival and advancement
Despite the acceptable technical levels Al-Najma has displayed, given its potential, most recently demonstrated by a spirited performance against Al-Khaleej, results continue to elude the team. Tonight, the home side hopes to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to secure their first victory in the tournament, a win that could be a lifeline in their fight to escape the specter of early relegation and move away from the bottom of the standings.
On the other side, Al-Nawakhda are enjoying a brilliant run, having extended their unbeaten streak to six matches (3 wins and 3 draws). The Dammam-based team will be looking to secure all three points in Buraidah today to improve their position and move closer to the top four, capitalizing on the players' high morale.
Absences and key available weapons
In terms of lineup, Al-Najma suffers from the significant absence of its Moroccan defender, Jawad El Yamiq, who is on international duty with his national team. Despite this, the coaching staff is relying on some experienced players to compensate for the loss, such as Brazilian goalkeeper Victor Braga, his compatriots Samir Souza and Lazaro, as well as Frenchman Bilal Boutouba, Honduran Romell Quioto, Debe Flores, and the talented Iraqi Ali Jassim.
Al-Ittihad, on the other hand, enters the match with a nearly full squad, having regained the services of their South African star, Mohau Nkouta, after the international break. The team boasts a wealth of world-class players capable of making a difference, led by Dutch captain Georginio Wijnaldum, winner of the Player of the Month award for December, alongside Spanish playmaker Álvaro Medrán, Slovakian goalkeeper Marek Rodák, the solid Scottish defender Mark Hendry, Costa Rican Francisco Calvo, and French striker Moussa Dembélé, a constant threat to opposing defenses.
