The technical staff of Al-Nassr's first football team, led by its Portuguese coach, received a strong blow hours before the start of the anticipated Riyadh derby, as it was officially decided to exclude international defender Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri from the team's roster that is preparing to play the decisive match against the traditional rival Al-Hilal in the top match of the Roshan Professional League, due to the lack of full medical readiness.
The injury stems from the player experiencing calf muscle pain during Al-Nassr's previous match against Al-Qadisiyah, which took place last Thursday evening as part of the 14th round of the league. Despite medical efforts to prepare the player over the past few days, final examinations confirmed his inability to participate in the upcoming match, necessitating his exclusion from the squad to ensure his safety and prevent further injury.
Al-Amri's absence is a significant technical loss for Al-Nassr's defense, as statistics indicate his pivotal role in the team's lineup this season. The solid defender has participated in 17 matches for Al-Nassr this season, accumulating 1134 minutes of playing time. His contributions extend beyond defense, as he has also scored three goals and provided two assists, making him a key pillar of the team.
This match holds exceptional importance, transcending its status as a traditional derby. The clash between Riyadh's two giants, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, always attracts a massive following both locally and regionally, and is considered a showcase for Saudi football. The significance of this particular encounter is amplified by the teams' positions in the league standings. Al-Nassr enters the match in second place with 31 points, trailing league leaders Al-Hilal by just four points.
Analysts believe this encounter represents a “six-point match,” as a victory for Al-Nassr would reduce the gap to one point and ignite the competition for the title, while a victory for Al-Hilal would widen the gap and extend their lead, putting significant pressure on Al-Nassr’s coaching staff to find a suitable replacement to compensate for Al-Omari’s absence, given the formidable attacking force possessed by the opponent.
The match is scheduled to take place at the stadium at 8:30 pm on Monday, January 12, as part of the fifteenth round of the Roshan League, amid great anticipation from the sports community to see who will prevail in this football epic.
