A look back at the 2023-24 Qassim Derbies | OneFootball

The long-awaited first Qassim Derby of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League takes place this weekend, when Al Raed host Al Taawoun in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Here, we cast our mind back to the two meetings between the city rivals last season, in which Al Taawoun ultimately took the bragging rights.

Al Taawoun 2-1 Al Raed – Matchweek 7, September 21 2023

The opening derby of the 2023-24 campaign saw an in-form Al Taawoun host an off-colour Al Raed side who were struggling to find any momentum.

Then managed by Pericles Chamusca, Al Taawoun came into the match having lost only once of their first six RSL matches, with four of them being wins. Al Raed, meanwhile, had the reverse at the time: they had lost four of their previous six games in the league, winning only once.

And so the derby began as expected, summer signing Joao Pedro opened the scoring for Al Taawoun on nine minutes, the Brazilian pouncing on a rebound to place home from close range. Seven minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage through Waleed Al Ahmad’s towering header at the back post from an Al Taawoun corner.

Al Raed appeared to be in for a torrid evening, but the visitors pulled a goal back six minutes before half-time. Oumar Gonzalez reacted quickest following a header from a corner that crashed the underside of the Al Taawoun crossbar, heading the ball back into the net.

However, Al Taawoun eventually got the job done, much to the delight of the majority of supporters at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Al Raed 0-0 Al Taawoun – Matchweek 24, March 16 2024

Almost six months later, it was Al Raed’s turn to trot out as the home side at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Played out to just shy of 15,500 fans, the action on the pitch did not quite leave up to the vociferous support from the stands.

Despite Al Raed starting brighter, the best chance of the first half – and, in the end, the match – was created by the visitors, when after superb work from winger Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi, his cross initially cannoned off Al Raed defender Mamadou Loum and onto the upright. Latching onto the rebound, Pedro could only rattle the woodwork again.

Al Raed, though, would have snatched the points if it wasn’t for a fine save from Al Taawoun goalkeeper Mailson to deny Karim El Berkaoui, whose curling shot seemed destined for the bottom corner.

In the end, both sides had to settle for the point, a result that moved relegation-threatened Al Raed into 13th place and two points above the relegation zone. Al Taawoun, meanwhile, stayed fifth and three points behind fourth-placed Al Ittihad. They would usurp the defending RSL champions before the season was out, and with it, qualify for the 2024-25 AFC Asian Champions League Two.