The technical staff of Al-Ahli's first football team, led by German coach Matthias Jäissle, received a detailed report from the club's medical staff regarding the condition of Turkish defender Merih Demiral and his final position on participating in the anticipated Al-Hilal match, which is part of the top matches of the twentieth round of the Saudi Professional League, scheduled to be held at the "Kingdom Arena" stadium.
Details of the medical report and Demiral's position
According to informed sources within the club, the medical staff have informed coach Yasle that it will be difficult to rely on Demiral at this time, officially confirming the player's absence from Al-Ahli's upcoming match against Neom, as well as his confirmed absence from the 19th round match against Al-Ettifaq. This forced absence is due to the injury the Turkish defender sustained during the team's last match against Al-Khaleej, which necessitated an intensive treatment and rehabilitation program.
A race against time to catch El Clasico
In a related development, Matthias Jäissle emphasized the need to intensify medical efforts to prepare Merih Demiral for the derby match against Al-Hilal. The coach's medical staff explained that the player's availability for this crucial game depends entirely on his response to treatment and his recovery in the coming period, leaving the coaching staff anxiously awaiting news regarding the full strength of their defense before one of the most important matches of the season.
The importance of El Clásico and the impact of a potential absence
The Al-Ahli vs. Al-Hilal match is of paramount importance, not only because it pits two of Saudi Arabia's football giants against each other, but also because of its direct impact on the Roshan League standings. Matches between these two teams are always a major draw for Arab and international fans, especially after the influx of international players into the league. The absence of a key defensive player like Demiral could be a significant blow to Yasle's plans, particularly against Al-Hilal's formidable attacking force. This necessitates finding tactical alternatives capable of filling the defensive gap should his absence be confirmed.
A morale boost from the Gulf match
On another front, Al-Ahli enters the upcoming period buoyed by their resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Khaleej. The match saw a remarkable performance from striker Ivan Toni, who scored a hat-trick, in addition to a fourth goal by Rayan Hamed. This impressive win provides the team with a significant morale boost, and the coaching staff aims to capitalize on this positive momentum to compensate for any potential absences and maintain their winning streak in the upcoming challenging matches against Al-Ettifaq and then Al-Hilal.
