Back as Saudi No.1, Al Aqidi keeping Al Fateh's RSL status within grasp | OneFootball

After a poor opening third of the season, which left them at the foot of the table and staring down relegation for the first time this century, something had to change at Al Fateh.

They had won once in the Roshn Saudi League, lost nine and conceded 39 goals. It worked out at a rate of 2.3 goals per game.

The output was quite clearly unsustainable for a club that, little more than a decade ago, achieved one of the greatest underdog stories in Saudi Arabian football history by lifting the RSL title.

So, in lieu of issues at the other end of the top flight, change is what the management at Al Fateh instituted.

There was new manager appointed, with Jose Gomes - a veteran of the RSL scene - parachuted in to begin the rescue mission.

There was fresh personnel drafted in in attack, with Argentine Mathias Vargas arriving from a career-best season with China’s Shanghai Port. Understandably, his remit was to help bolster Al Fateh’s attacking stocks that, until that point, had scored only 13 goals in as many games.

And, just as importantly, there was a change in goal. Hungarian international Peter Szappanos returned to his homeland to join his former club Paks on loan, with Saudi international Nawaf Al Aqidi, brought in on a temporary deal from Al Nassr.

The idea, obviously, was to help stiffen a defence that remained on track to rival the worst defensive records in RSL history.

The move was an important one, also, for Al Aqidi. After a difficult 12 months at club and national-team level – he had lost his spot as the Green Falcons No.1 during Roberto Mancini’s tenure – the 24-year-old needed to get back to playing regularly.

It was the only way he could force his way back into the national team following Herve Renard’s return. And, thus far, the decision is paying dividends - for both player and club.

The reinforcements during the RSL winter break have played a principal part in Al Fateh turning around their fortunes somewhat: they have four wins from their past seven in the league.

Thus, they have climbed off the foot of the table and, with eight matches remaining and a game in hand over those around them, are on the verge of breaking free of the relegation zone. Going into Saturday's important test at Al Khaleej, Al Fateh sit 16th but know victory would drag them up a couple of spots.

Al Aqidi has been a key cog to their reversal in form. While he has kept one clean sheet in his 11 matches, it represented only Al Fateh’s second for the season. But that tells merely part of the story.

Importantly, Al Aqidi has provided a sense of calm and stability to the defence, meaning they’ve been able to plug their leaky backline - to an extent.

From conceding 39 goals in 17 RSL games, at a rate of 2.3 per game, Al Fateh been able to tighten that up to concede 11 goals in nine, almost halving their rate of concession to 1.2 per match.

In a short space of time, Al Aqidi is now ranked sixth in the 2024-25 competition for save percentage at 75%, more than the likes of lofty peers in Al Nassr successor Bento, Al Ahli’s Edouard Mendy, Al Fayha’s Orlando Mosquera and Yassine Bono, the reigning RSL Goalkeeper of the Year at Al Hilal.

Importantly, and this points to a reason behind Al Fateh’s turnaround, Al Aqidi’s input ranks higher than Szappanos, whose numbers sat at 63.2% - only enough for a rank of 18th in the league.

With 34 saves in total, including seven that are classified as “big chances”, it’s been an impressive start to life in Al Ahsa for Al Aqidi, who is quickly demonstrating why he is considered one of Saudi Arabia’s best shot-stoppers.

So much so, that his run of good form was rewarded by Renard with a return to the national team set-up for last month’s international window - and crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against China and Japan.

Restored to the starting line-up, and while Al Aqidi wasn’t needed to make a save of note in the 1-0 victory at home to China, he was an important foil in their 0-0 draw at runaway Group C leaders Japan.

The Al Fateh custodian contributed two important saves to earn a valuable point as Saudi Arabia look to secure their place at next year’s global showpiece in North America.

Of course, national aspirations will be put on hold now as the focus switches back to club matters. Now returned to Al Fateh, Al Aqidi can concentrate on trying to seal the club’s RSL status for another season.

That begins on Saturday, with the short 150km journey north to Dammam to face Al Khaleej. The Saihat-based side are clear enough of relegation, in 10th, but have a solitary win from their past nine in the RSL.

With that in mind, Gomes and Al Fateh will sniff an opportunity to take points to edge out of the drop zone.

For all their struggles of late, Al Khaleej do boast a potent attack with the likes of Abdullah Al Salem, the leading Saudi goalscorer this season, RSL stalwart Fabio Martins and Konstantinos Fortounis; between them, the trio have claimed 20 goals and eight assists in the league this season.

That makes it another important test for Al Aqidi to prove his worth and show his quality. The more he does that, and with the bonus of reclaiming the Saudi No.1 jersey, the more likely it is that Al Fateh will survive for another campaign in the RSL.