Ronaldo's Al Nassr seek response, new era begins at Al Wehda | OneFootball

Matchweek 12 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League continues on Friday, with top-four chasers Al Qadsiah and Al Khaleej facing off, Nassr out to banish memories of last week, and a former manager returning to turn around Al Wehda.

Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 17:25

Two of the RSL’s most in-form sides meet on the East Coast on Friday evening, when sixth-placed Al Khaleej travel to Al Qadsiah in fifth.

The hosts go into the match with five straight wins – four in the league and one in the King’s Cup – since they last tasted defeat, with strike partnership Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Quinones really clicking.

The pair both scored in last Friday’s brilliant 2-1 triumph at third-placed Al Nassr, with the winner coming when Quinones centred to Aubameyang. It was then voted the BSF Goal of the Week for Matchweek 11.

Manager Michel, though, will be acutely aware of the threat posed by this superb Al Khaleej side. They are without doubt the surprise package of the campaign, winning six of their 11 legaue outings thus far.

Even better for Georgios Donis’ men, it’s been four victories on the bounce, the latter three secured in large part thanks to Abdullah Al Salem. The Saudi striker has scored twice in all three matches, including in that incredible win on Saturday against Al Hilal – the champions' first RSL defeat in 47 games.

Just to double down on Al Salem’s streak: he is the fourth player to score three consecutive braces in the RSL, after Omar Al Somah (twice), Danilo Asprilla and Bafetimbi Gomis. No player has ever stretched that to four consecutive matches.

Al Nassr v Damac

Al Awwal Park, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 17:40

Al Nassr rebounded well from last week’s defeat to Al Qadsiah – their first loss in the league this season – with a convincing 3-1 win on Monday at Qatar’s Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions Elite. The result confirmed their place in the knockout stages with three rounds to spare.

In that match, Cristiano Ronaldo continued his recent run of goals, grabbing two, although he returns to RSL action knowing he needs to improve quickly upon his seven in the 2024-25 competition to ensure his grip on the golden boot does not slip (Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic leads the scoring charts, with 12).

For Damac, they come to the capital looking to inflict a second league defeat of the campaign on their hosts. Cosmin Contra’s 11th-placed team have picked up significantly since a run of three defeats in late September.

Since, they have lost only once and arrive in Riyadh buoyed by successive wins. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou has led the way: the Cameroon international scored in both the 3-2 triumph at Al Wehda and Sunday’s 2-1 victory at home to Al Kholood. In all, he has seven in the RSL this season, and five in his past six matches.

On the opposing side, however, is a superstar with a knack of causing damage to Damac: Ronaldo has scored four goals from five shots on target in three RSL games against the southern club.

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Al Ahli v Al Wehda

Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sport City, Jeddah - KICK-OFF 20:00

For all the struggles that beset Al Ahli earlier this season, they have certainly righted the ship of late. The Jeddah giants have won seven of their past 10 across all competitions – they have tasted defeat only twice during that period – including four on the spin.

Two AFC Champions League Elite victories have sandwiched a pair of successes in the RSL, with Monday’s 2-1 win at continental champions Al Ain confirming Al Ahli as the first team to qualify for the knockouts of the rebranded tournament.

Ivan Toney will be glad to have grabbed both goals in the Emirates as the marquee summer signing bids to win his place back in the starting line-up. He has three goals in eight RSL appearances.

And, while Al Ahli have climbed to seventh in the table, Al Wehda will be delighted simply to have broken free of the relegation zone. The Mecca outfit have finally secured a second win of the season, the 1-0 victory against Al Taawoun last weekend giving everyone connected to the club a much-needed lift.

However, it was not enough to save Josef Zinnbauer's job; the German, appointed in the summer, was made to pay for a run of six defeats and two draws and was replaced midweek by former Al Wehda manager Jose Daniel Carreno. The Uruguayan will be intent on his new team moving further away from relegation this round.

History, though, isn’t on their side: Al Ahli have the highest win percentage in the RSL against Al Wehda, at 70 percent (among teams they have faced 20-plus times). And what’s more, winger Riyad Mahrez has contributed to six goals in his past three matches across all competitions (three goals and three assists).