Al Ahli aiming to inflict mortal blow on Al Ittihad as Jeddah derby features in must-watch SPL matches

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  • (Twitter/@ittihad).

    A consequential Jeddah derby and the telling response from the shaken champions are set to dominate matchweek 24 in the Saudi Professional League.

    There was joy last week when the Middle East’s premier club competition resumed after five months away because of coronavirus. Mixed emotions, however, followed in the aftermath.

    Here are this round’s must-watch games:

    AL ITTIHAD V AL AHLI JEDDAH (SUNDAY, 22:00)

    (Twitter/@ALAHLI_FC).

    (Twitter/@ALAHLI_FC).

    Much more than local pride will be on the line when these historic rivals meet at an empty King Abdullah Sports City.

    Sunday’s clash is defined by sides moving in different directions, under highly respected coaches hired in February.

    Tuesday’s Abdulfattah Asiri-inspired 4-2 triumph versus Al Hazem helped propel Ahli into the third-and-final 2021 AFC Champions League qualification spot. This is where Vladan Milojevic will be determined to stay, with two wins and one loss recorded during his interrupted tenure.

    A diabolical second half for Ittihad, in contrast, at mid-table Abha witnessed a well-earned 1-0 lead degenerate into an alarming 2-1 defeat. Only one point and one place now separates the bedraggled troops of Fabio Carille – for whom it has all been downhill since February 29’s debut 5-1 thrashing of Al Shabab – from a first relegation in their 92-year history.

    Fate has, potentially, given them a reprieve with suspensions for Al Nassr-bound Asiri and ex-Nantes left-back Lucas Lima. Plus, injury problems for Bosnia midfielder Elvis Saric and Saudi Arabia right-back Saeed Al Mowalad.

    But Omar Al Somah has struck in his last three derbies for Ahli, March 2019’s staggering bicycle kick providing the highlight. The iconic Syria centre forward’s personal duel with Romarinho may decide this match, plus so much more.

    Prediction: Al Ittihad 0-2 Al Ahli Jeddah

    ABHA V AL NASSR (MONDAY, 20:15)

    Al Nassr's Rui Vitoria (r) (EPA).

    Al Nassr’s Rui Vitoria (r) (EPA).

    First, for the good news; Nassr will not need to quell a striker of Bafetimbi Gomis’ enduring ferocity on Monday.

    The ex-France centre forward delivered two goals – including an exquisite first-time finish from a sweeping counter attack – when leaders Al Hilal inflicted a 4-1 defeat on shaken holders Nassr, opening up a nine-point gap.

    A retort is a must for Rui Vitoria’s chastened chasers if they are to hold any pretension of extending a title race which already appears lost.

    Nothing is guaranteed, though, at Abha. The hosts responded in defiant fashion versus Ittihad to make it only one defeat in their last five matches.

    Mentality is the key for Nassr. Do they still have the stomach for an almost-certainly forlorn title fight when a sprint through the remaining 2020 AFC Champions League rounds awaits from next month?

    Prediction: Abha 1-1 Al Nassr

    AL WEHDA V AL RAED (SUNDAY, 20:30)

    (Twitter/@alwehdaclub1).

    (Twitter/@alwehdaclub1).

    Consistency remains the key problem for Al Wehda.

    Jose Daniel Carreno’s men relinquished, with a whimper, the third place they’d held throughout the pause with a 3-0 home loss to Shabab. Only five attempts on goal were registered to the visitors’ 16, a statistic which leads little room for complaints.

    This continued a remarkable campaign in which Wehda are yet to draw a match.

    If they are to fend off Ahli and Al Faisaly, they must start turning some of their SPL defeats – there have been 10 of them – into victories.

    Imminent opponents Raed, however, are looking to do the double over them after November’s 3-2 win. Wehda are also set to be without suspended centre-back Renato Chaves.

    Prediction: Al Wehda 2-1 Al Raed

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