Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens this evening (Thursday) as the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League , with intense competition both at the top of the table and in the battle to avoid relegation. This round features three crucial matches, all with a "no slip-ups" mentality, especially for Saudi football giants Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, who are both striving to solidify their positions in the standings.
Al-Hilal aims to regain its winning form in Najran
In one of the most anticipated matches of the night, Al-Hilal a formidable guest against Al- Akhdoud at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Najran. The "Leaders" enter the match at the top of the standings with 47 points, accumulated from an impressive run that includes 14 wins and 5 draws, maintaining their unbeaten record so far. Despite their position at the top, Al-Hilal is under pressure from their fans to return to winning ways after their recent goalless draw against Al-Ahli, which was their third consecutive draw. Al-Hilal boasts the strongest attack in the league with 47 goals, while their defense has conceded 18.
On the other hand, Al-Akhdoud enters the match with legitimate ambitions to achieve a surprise and take advantage of the home ground and crowd factors to escape the specter of relegation, as it sits in 17th place with only 10 points, and suffers defensively after conceding 35 goals, which makes its task difficult against Al-Hilal’s sweeping attack.
Al-Ahli chases the top spot at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
On the shores of the Red Sea, specifically at Al-Inma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah (The Shining Jewel), Al-Ahli Al -Hazm in a must-win match for the home side. Al-Ahli aims to capitalize on their rivals' stumbles and close the gap on the league leaders, currently sitting in third place with 44 points, just a short distance behind the top spot. Al-Ahli has had an exceptional season so far, boasting 13 victories and the strongest defense in the league, having conceded only 12 goals.
Meanwhile, Al-Hazm hopes to improve its position in the standings, currently sitting in 11th place with 21 points. The visitors are aware of the difficulty of the task ahead in front of Al-Ahli's large and passionate crowd, but they aspire to achieve a positive result that will solidify their position in the safe zone.
The battle for the bottom and middle positions between Al-Fayhaa and Al-Najma
In Al Majma'ah, Al Majma'ah Sports Stadium will host a crucial match between Al Fayha and their guests, Al Najma . Al Fayha (currently 12th place with 20 points) hopes to climb into the mid-table and secure their position, while Al Najma is in dire straits at the bottom of the table (18th place) with only 5 points, desperately seeking their first league win of the season to salvage their season.
The importance of the round and its impact on the league
This round is of paramount importance as it comes at a crucial stage of the league, where the title race is beginning to take shape and the battle to avoid relegation intensifies. A return to winning ways is essential for Al-Hilal to ensure they don't lose their lead to their pursuers, while an Al-Ahli victory would put direct pressure on the league leaders, igniting the competition and confirming that the Saudi Professional League has become one of the most exciting and competitive leagues in the region, attracting the attention of fans from around the world.
