Gerrard out to snap funk, Al Hilal bid to keep on leaders' coattails | OneFootball

The final Roshn Saudi League matchday of 2024 takes place on Saturday before the 2024-25 competition pauses for the winter break, with Steven Gerrard hoping to arrest a slide, the champions intent on keeping pace at summit, and an intriguing clash in Buraidah.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 15:55

Saturday’s action kicks off with two sides seeking to rally following defeat – although the mood around the respective camps could probably not be much different.

Yes, Al Khaleej stumbled last time out, losing 1-0 at an Al Qadsiah one place above them in the table, but previous to that Georgios Donis’ side had won four on the bounce.

They will therefore be looking for a quick response at home to another East Coast club, with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq undoubtedly desperate to turn the tide. The Dammam outfit were beaten 4-0 last week by table-toppers Al Ittihad, extending their winless RSL run to nine.

However, there was a morale-boosting victory midweek in the AGCFF Gulf Champions League – 5-0 at home to Qatar’s Al Arabi – so can the 14-placed side carry that over into this clash against Al Khaleej in seventh?

This marks the fourth time in Al Ettifaq’s history that they’ve not won in nine consecutive RSL matches. Only twice have they gone winless in 10+ successive matches (14 matches in 2009 and 11 matches between 2016-2017). However, they ended the latter streak with a 3-1 win against Al Khaleej and, in their most recent meeting in February, Al Ettifaq ended an eight-match winless streak with a 2-0 win.

Al Hilal v Al Raed

Kingdom Arena, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 20:00

Fresh from drawing Real Madrid in the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, Al Hilal will refocus on domestic matters, with the RSL champions bidding to keep up with Al Ittihad at the summit.

Jorge Jesus’ title-holders proved the mini-wobble in the defeat to Al Khaleej and AFC Champions League Elite draw at Al Sadd was just that; they have since seen off Riyadh rivals Al Shabab 2-1 in the derby and, on Tuesday, dispatched Qatar’s Al Gharafa 3-0. In the Saudi top flight, Al Hilal sit second, two points off Al Ittihad.

Al Raed, meanwhile, visit Kingdom Arena on the back off some inconsistent form. The Buraidah club have won three, drawn one and lost three of their past seven in the league to rank 11th.

Last weekend’s defeat in the Qassim Derby would have particularly stung, with neighbours Al Taawoun grabbing a 1-0 victory thanks to Abdulfattah Adam’s goal 12 minutes from time.

And the signs aren’t great for this one, if history is anything to go by: Al Hilal have lost only once against Al Raed in 32 RSL matches, winning 27. The defeat came more than a decade ago, in October 2013.

Al Taawoun v Al Ahli

King Abdullah Sport City, Buraidah - KICK-OFF 20:00

And so we head into the winter break with the second of Saturday’s 8pm kick-offs, where Al Taawoun in eighth know victory at home to sixth-placed Al Ahli would see them leapfrog their opponents in the table.

The hosts, a brilliant fourth last season, will surely view Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s first half of the campaign as a success; Al Taawoun have lost five in 20 matches across all competitions, including only two in their past 12. On Wednesday, they sealed a spot in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Two as winners of their group.

Saying that, challenges don’t get too much more difficult at present than a resurgent Al Ahli. Last season’s third-best side had embarked on a run of five successive wins before Monday’s entertaining 2-2 draw against Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Elite (their place in the last 16 was already sealed).

Manager Matthias Jaissle will be pleased, though, that Ivan Toney continues to find the net. The Englishman’s pair of converted penalties made it four goals in his past three appearances, even if his RSL drought sits at four games.

Al Ahli are aiming for their 100th away win in the RSL and, with it, would become only the fourth team to achieve the feat after Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad.