Another action-packed gameweek is over as we are heading to the international break. Letโs take the backseat and discuss the key events!
๐. ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
The most-anticipated encounter of the weekend was the derby between reigning champions Al Ittihad and Al Nassr in Jeddah. To summarise the match promptly, Ronaldo and co dominated the entirety of the match and the 0-2 end result doesnโt reflect the actual difference between the teams. The consequences? Al Nassr is clear at the top of the league with a flawless start following four rounds and poor Laurent Blanc is dismissed as head coach of Al Ittihad.
๐. ๐๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ
Interestingly, each of the nine matches had a victor and none of the fixtures ended with a draw. What is even more fascinating is that 8 out of 9 matches ended with the victory of the away team. The sole exception was Al Hilal, who came from behind against Al Okhdood to keep all three points at home.
๐. ๐๐ก๐จ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ?
It seems obvious that the reshaped Al Nassr under new head coach Jorge Jesus is a clear contender for the title. Indeed, Jorge Jesus dominates the league with Al Nassr the same way he did with Al Hilal not so long ago. The question is: who will keep up the pace with them?
A difficult question to answer. Currently, similarly unbeaten Al Qadsiah occupies the second place with ten points, and the absence of international competition could be a big advantage for them in the long run. Al Hilal and Al Ahli are also unbeaten, however, they both dropped points on multiple occasions. Al Ittihad and Al Taawoun had a flawless start if we ignore their sole defeats against Al Nassr.
We wouldnโt make forecasts now as we usually fail with them, so letโs just say that we will get a much clearer picture following the international break!
๐. ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฏ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐
Title says it all: Al Fayha bagged a very important win against Al Najma on Saturday. Silvรจre Ganvoula, who joined from AC Mozna this summer, was expected by the visitors to take the lead and share the goalscoring burden with talismanic winger Fashion Sakala. He did it he way every striker dreams of doing: with a late winner. Welcome to the Saudi Pro League, Silvรจre Ganvoula!
๐. ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ข ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐๐๐ฆ
Letโs discuss local talent, because this is a current topic as Khalid Al Ghannam seems to be absolutely rocking following his arrival in Al Ettifaq. Scoring a brace and assisting the third goal, he played a crucial part in each of his teamโs goals against Damac. Three goals and two assists from four games is great return from a winger.
Letโs bow before Feras Al Buraikan, too. He scored an exceptional goal against Al Hazem, who could miss rued chances against the Champions of Asia as it wasnโt as an easy match for the visitors as the scoreline suggests. Feras made performing such a difficult technique look like a childโs play, especially given his muted celebration after taking the lead with such a beauty.
