On Thursday evening, the eyes of Saudi football fans, specifically those following the Yellow League for First Division clubs Al-Qadisiyah , one of the top candidates for promotion, and its guest, Neom , which aspires to achieve a positive result, as part of the twenty-second round of the competition.
Al-Qadisiyah, playing at home, enters this match with their sights set on three points to return to winning ways after their draw in the previous round. The "Knights of the East" dropped two valuable points in the title race after their draw with Al-Fateh, a result they are eager to quickly rectify to remain in the thick of the fierce competition for the two direct promotion spots to the Saudi Professional League. Al-Qadisiyah currently sits in fourth place in the standings with 44 points, accumulated from 13 wins, 5 draws, and only 2 losses, reflecting the team's strength and technical stability this season.
The importance of the match in the context of the competition
The match holds added importance for both teams. For Al-Qadisiyah, a victory is crucial to maintain pressure on the league leaders and avoid dropping more points that could prove costly at the end of the season. The team boasts a rich history in Saudi football, having played in the top flight for many years, and its primary objective this season is to return to its rightful place among the elite. The squad features a constellation of prominent stars, including Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels, Spaniard Nacho Fernandez, Ghanaian Bonsu Ba, German Julian Weigl, Uruguayan Nahitan Nandez, Mexican Julian Quiñones, and Italian Matteo Rettigny, alongside talented local players such as Jihad Zikri, Musab Al-Juwair, and Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat.
On the other hand, NEOM enters the match with high morale after securing three valuable points in the previous round with a victory over Al-Riyadh. The team, representing one of the world's largest future projects, aims to continue its good form, solidify its position in the mid-table, and climb further up the standings. NEOM currently sits in eighth place with 28 points, having achieved eight wins and four draws. They hope to achieve a positive result, whether a win or a draw, against a strong opponent like Al-Qadisiyah, which would give them a significant morale boost for the remaining rounds. The team boasts a number of distinguished players capable of making a difference, such as Algerian Saïd Benrahma, Frenchmen Alexandre Lacazette and Nathan Dzié, Malian Amadou Koné, Egyptian Ahmed Hegazi, Uruguayan Luciano Rodríguez, as well as Salman Al-Faraj and Fares Abdi.
First round encounter and the aspirations of both teams
The first leg between the two teams in the fifth round ended with Al-Qadisiyah winning 3-1, and the "Bnu Qadis" (Al-Qadisiyah's nickname) will be looking to confirm their superiority, while Neom will be aiming for revenge and a different result this time around. The match will be a true test of Al-Qadisiyah's ability to handle pressure and Neom's ambition to compete with the top teams, promising an exciting and intense encounter on the pitch.
