A pair of Asia’s biggest clubs are in need of an emphatic response in match-week two of the Saudi Professional League.
2019/20 runners-up Al Nassr – in the absence of top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah – stumbled out of the starting blocks on Sunday during a shock 2-1 home defeat to lowly Al Fateh. There was similar anguish for Al Ittihad, who’ll fear a third-successive brush with relegation after their late implosion versus Ettifaq inflicted a chastening 2-1 reversal.
This duo feature in our three must-watch games:
AL TAAWOUN V AL NASSR (THURSDAY, 19:05)
Hamdallah was outside the Kingdom, yet his influence on Nassr’s dreadful 2020/21 kick-off was total.
The period between devastating semi-final defeat in this year’s AFC Champions League to depleted Persepolis and Sunday’s slaying by Fateh has been filled with discord and rumours. Hamdallah, however, returned from his extended break on Wednesday morning.
The Nassr faithful will pine for the centre forward’s immediate resumption at Al Taawoun on Thursday. Especially with Brazilian centre-back Maicon and $18 million Argentina winger Pity Martinez injured.
How the 2018/19 victors missed Hamdallah against Fateh. Only five of their 17 attempts went on target, with stand-in Abdulfattah Adam contributing one from his five efforts.
A reminder that Hamdallah was 2019’s global top scorer with 57 goals, been the leading marksman in both SPL campaigns since August 2018’s €6 million transfer from Al Rayyan and his seven strikes is the most, to date, in the 2020 ACL. Utterly irreplaceable.
Al Nassr boss Rui Vitoria (r) (EPA).
Taawoun, especially, will not welcome the 29-year-old’s potential return. The deciding goal in last month’s round-of-16 meeting in Doha was his sixth in four appearances versus them.
Patrice Carteron’s domestic debut in the dugout, ostensibly, featured a respectable 1-1 draw with Al Faisaly. But the statistics from that one-sided game saw them enjoy only 38-per-cent possession, while notching five attempts to their opponents’ 17.
This ratio would lead to certain doom if Hamdallah is in any position to feature on Thursday. Bafetimbi Gomis’ 74th-minute introduction in Al Hilal’s 1-0 win versus promoted Al Ain, after his vacation, is a guide.
It is also now just one win from Taawoun’s last nine SPL run-outs. Brokered peace with Cameroon striker Leandre Tawamba is the only recent positive.
Prediction: Al Taawoun 0-1 Al Nassr
AL FATEH V AL ITTIHAD (SATURDAY, 20:55)
Ittihad supporters, by now, will have learned to fear the worst.
Enthusiasm about a fresh campaign grew when Fahad Al Muwallad converted a penalty-kick on the hour-mark versus Ettifaq. A typical surrender caused by Brazil centre-back Bruno Uvini’s loose back header and Hamdan Al Shamrani’s trip, though, allowed Slovakia midfielder Flip Kiss to score two spot-kicks of his own at the other end.
This ended a six-match undefeated streak for the Tigers, while seeing old fears reappear. The visitors to a deserted King Abdullah Sports City prevailed via more possession (58.7 per cent/41.3 per cent) and attempts (15/9).
Revitalised Fateh will be no pushovers on Saturday, either.
Romarinho (l) and Karim El Ahmadi (c) of Al Ittihad (EPA).
Reintegration of Cape Verde winger Garry Rodrigues followed on Tuesday for Ittihad with a loan return to Fenerbahce off the table. Serbia striker Aleksandar Prijovic may also be in condition to start and €4m Palmeiras midfielder Bruno Henrique showed promise on debut.
These players will need to be close to their best against in-form Fateh.
Certain relegation pre-lockdown has transformed into a stirring return of 17 points from the last 27 available.
Belgian boss Yannick Ferrera continues to attract admiring glances from across the Gulf. These will only strengthen if another Saudi giant is slayed.
Prediction: Al Fateh 2-2 Al Ittihad
AL QADSIAH V DAMAC (FRIDAY, 18:40)
An intriguing, and enlightening, exhibition of mental strength awaits at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium.
Hosts Al Qadsiah and visitors Damac experienced draining starts to 2020/21. Both are predicted to struggle in the months ahead, with the shape of their responses this weekend illuminating.
Hassan Al Amri’s 31st-minute penalty put Qadsiah on the path towards a perfect top-flight comeback, after a season away.
Match-winners Dimitri Petratos (89’) and Ahmed Abdoh (90’+5) then emerged late on to hand fancied Al Wehda all three points.
Damac losing to Al Raed (Twitter/@SPL).
A different scenario unfolded for Damac. They went 3-0 down at home to Al Raed by 32 minutes, witnessed Argentine centre-back Cristian Lema dismissed on the hour mark with the score 3-1 and came frustratingly close to a share of the spoils by the final whistle at 3-2 down.
Argentine forward Emiliano Zelaya remains intrinsic to hopes of pulling off another great escape. His double, both penalties, made it 15 strikes in 17 SPL fixtures since January’s switch from Cyprus’ Apollon Limassol.
This represents 60.7 per cent of his club’s 28 SPL goals after his debut.
For Qadsiah, their midfield should be bolstered by new recruits Edson and Mihai Bordeianu.
Prediction: Al Qadsiah 2-1 Damac
MATCH-WEEK 2 FIXTURES
Thursday
16:40 Abha v Al Hilal
19:05 Al Taawoun v Al Nassr
20:55 Al Ahli Jeddah v Al Wehda
Friday
18:40 Al Qadsiah v Damac
19:05 Al Raed v Al Shabab
20:55 Al Faisaly v Al Batin
Saturday
18:40 Ettifaq v Al Ain
20:55 Al Fateh v Al Ittihad
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