Al-Ahli Saudi FC suffered a major blow to their defense with the confirmed absence of their Turkish international defender, Merih Demiral, from the upcoming match against Al-Hazm. This absence comes at a crucial time in the season, as both teams prepare to face off in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, scheduled for Thursday evening.
Details of the injury and the coaching staff's decision
Demiral's absence is due to his incomplete recovery from a muscle injury sustained earlier. He suffered the injury during his team's match against Al-Khaleej in the seventeenth round of the league. Based on medical assessments, the team's German coach, Matthias Jäissle, decided not to risk playing him in the Al-Hazm match, preferring to give him extra time to fully recover and avoid any setbacks that could keep him out of action for a longer period, especially with the season entering its crucial stages.
Demiral's importance in Al Ahly's defensive system
Since joining Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023 from Atalanta, Merih Demiral (27 years old) has been a defensive rock and a key player in coach Ycel's squad. He has participated in 24 matches this season across all competitions, totaling 2,026 minutes of play. In these appearances, he has not only fulfilled his defensive duties but has also contributed offensively, scoring two goals and providing one assist. His absence presents a significant challenge for the coaching staff, who will have to find a suitable replacement to maintain the solidity of the team's back line, which has conceded one of the fewest goals in the league.
The impact of the absence on the team's ambitions
Al-Ahli enters this match in third place in the Roshan League standings with 44 points, just two points behind second-placed Al-Nassr. The team aims to maintain pressure on the leading teams and secure their spot in next season's AFC Champions League. Although Al-Hazm occupies a lower position in the standings (eleventh place with 21 points), any slip-up could prove costly for Al-Ahli in their fierce battle for the top spots. Therefore, the absence of a player of Demiral's caliber and experience, who has played for major clubs like Juventus and Atalanta, could affect the team's stability and confidence in this crucial encounter.
