Day 2 of Matchweek 2 rolls around on Wednesday
The second day of fixtures in Matchweek 2 takes place on Wednesday, with the current Roshn Saudi League champions in action and four of the six clubs involved seeking a first win of 2024-25.
The Scout picks for #RoshnSaudiLeague Matchweek 2 are here https://t.co/le0Vj3MpgW#EsportsWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tMn1XSuFFy
Steven Gerrard would have delighted in his team’s dramatic opening-day victory at Al Shabab. The visitors departed Riyadh for Dammam with all three points thanks to Moussa Dembele’s brilliant 76th-minute strike from range.
Of the other positives, there was an impressive debut in goal for summer signing Marek Rodak, while Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Seko Fofana showed the sort of energy that convinced Al Ettifaq to renew his loan deal from Al Nassr.
This strike from Moussa Dembele to win it for Al Ettifaq! #EsportsWorldCup pic.twitter.com/rVxYzxDla5
The home team will be wary, however, of an Al Okhdood side who failed to give new manager Stjepan Tomas much to cheer during his first taste of the RSL although, given on Saturday they were hosting reigning champions Al Hilal who were unbeaten in 36 matches in the league, he will appreciate better days are to come.
That could begin on Wednesday, with Eid Al Muwallad, Saviour Godwin and Juan Pedroza a more-than-capable midfield to stymie Al Ettifaq, while the hope will be that summer recruit Knowledge Musona can come into the side - and cause some danger from set-pieces.
Get your tickets for Al Ettifaq v Al Okhdood HERE
Al Hilal v Damac
The RSL holders picked up in the new campaign where they left off the last, with the comprehensive 3-0 win sealed with an expertly dominant first half in Najran. It bodes well for Al Hilal - but not for the rest of the division - that Aleksandar Mitrovic made his intentions clear regarding the golden boot; having missed out last year to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Serb notched a brace to burst out of the blocks the race for the 2024-25 RSL’s top-scorer award.
Jorge Jesus’ side now have dropped points in only three games in the competition since they last sampled defeat at the tail end of the 2022-23 season, even if they will have to make do without full-back Saud Abdulhamid, who has made a landmark move to Italy’s AS Roma.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic wins Goal of the Week for Matchweek 1! pic.twitter.com/2nJF6ubpCI
If Damac are in need of some optimism, they should remember they were one of the three teams to take points off Al Hilal in 2023-24, albeit the 1-1 draw did play out at home. Saying that, it took an injury-time winner from Michael to snatch Al Hilal victory in the corresponding fixture in Riyadh. The Khamis Mushait based side will be buoyed with the addition of firepower in the form of former Al Shabab forward Habib Diallo.
Also, Damac will be looking for an immediate response following an agonising defeat in Matchweek 1: they went down 1-0 at home to Al Khaleej courtesy of a first-half own goal from defender Dhari Al Anazi.
Can manager Cosmin Contra rally the troops for the champions?
