MW16: Legends Week kicks off, Benzema versus Hamdallah, Jaissle draws line? | OneFootball

With barely any time to catch breath, Matchweek 16 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League has rolled around, where the top flight’s inaugural “Legends Week” will add even more excitement to proceedings.

Here we select some of the key talking points for what is sure to be another fascinating round in this season’s RSL.

What can we expect from Legends Week?

Launched on Sunday by the Saudi Pro League (SPL), the exciting new initiative will run across Matchweeks 16 and 17, and is designed to celebrate the iconic players who have graced the RSL. Clubs will honour those footballers and managers who have contributed to their success, while fans will be encouraged to showcase their affection for their historic heroes.

From the league’s side, the SPL will offer engaging content across its platforms, providing these next two rounds with an extra-special feel.

Of course, legends don’t necessarily have to be players who’ve been and gone in the RSL. There’s Omar Al Somah, the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer, in line to make his debut for new club Al Orobah when they host high-flying Al Qadsiah on Wednesday.

Or how about Abderrazak Hamdallah, the man chasing down the Syrian; with 134 goals, he is 10 behind his rival. The Moroccan’s Al Shabab teammate, Abdullah Al Mayouf, will be out to add to his all-time clean-sheet record (81) also on Wednesday, against former employers Al Ittihad.

Before that, Yahya Al Shehri will be seeking to supplement his unrivalled 53 assists when Al Riyadh welcome Al Taawoun to the capital on Tuesday. The same game could well see Talal Haji, the youngest player in history to score in the RSL, feature.

And then there’s a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese megastar, who last season broke the record for goals in a single RSL campaign (35), will no doubt captain Al Nassr at Al Khaleej earlier that day.

Can Gerrard mastermind back-to-back wins?

Alright, we’ve been here before – and already this year. Al Ettifaq entered the winter break having consigned to history a nine-match winless streak, but they emerged in the first matchweek back only to lose 3-2 at home to Al Kholood.

Thus, the momentum required to start driving Steven Gerrard’s side back to where they feel they belong – sixth last season, they sit in the bottom half of the table – did not transpire.

However, a superb 3-0 victory at Damac in Matchweek 15 got Al Ettifaq on the right track once more and, while they remain 11th, the result moved them alongside their beaten rivals on points – and four off the top eight.

The test now, though, is to follow that triumph with another; not since Matchweek 3 in September have Al Ettifaq recorded consecutive RSL wins. Put simply, that needs to change. The only thing is, on Monday they host fifth-placed Al Ahli, who will be hurting following a tumultuous week that included defeat at Al Kholood.

How will Jaissle’s Al Ahli react to tough week?

Following on from that, it will be interesting to see how Al Ahli rebound not only to the 1-0 lost in Buraidah – it snapped their five-match win streak – but the speculation surrounding, and subsequent vote of confidence given to, manager Matthias Jaissle.

The highly regarded German was rumoured to be on the verge of leaving the Jeddah side, with Al Ahli supporters reacting with a vehement show of support in his favour. Then, on Saturday, the club released a statement on their official social-media channels denying the uncertainty around Jaissle and, in fact, offering their full backing.

With that in mind, you’d expect both the manager and squad to want to draw a line under the past few days. And what better way to do that than an emphatic display of their top-four credentials at Al Ettifaq on Monday night. Currently, they are fifth, three points off Al Nassr in fourth.

Are Al Fayha breaking free from relegation?

When the RSL paused last month for its winter break, Al Fayha wasted no time in acting. The Al Majma’ah club languished 17th in the standings, with a single win from 13 rounds. They had already decided to part company with manager Christos Kontis but, as soon as the RSL welcomed in its hiatus, Pedro Emanuel was announced as the new man at the helm.

Plumping for the Portuguese coach was easily explained. Emanuel boasts considerable RSL experience having managed Al Taawoun, Al Nassr and Al Khaleej. Last season, he guided the latter to a commendable 11th-placed finish. He is, also, a former RSL Manager of the Season following Al Taawoun’s third-placed finish in 2018-19.

At Al Fayha, Emanuel has had an immediate impact. Last week, in his opening RSL match, his side were minutes away from defeating league leaders Al Ittihad only to settle for a 1-1 draw, while on Thursday they won 2-1 at Al Okhdood – their first league success since Matchweek 5 in late September.

Although still in the relegation zone, Al Fayha are there on goal difference and lie four points from 12th. Are things beginning to look up? Monday’s home encounter with an in-form Al Kholood, that team in 12th, will serve as a decent barometer of that.

Who will shine between Benzema and Hamdallah?

Many would argue that Matchweek 16 is saving its best for last, as on Wednesday second-placed Al Ittihad host Al Shabab, who currently occupy sixth.

The two come into the game in Jeddah on the back of strong wins; Al Ittihad were excellent in defeating Al Raed 4-1, while Al Shabab displayed serious mettle to secure a last-gasp, come-from-behind derby triumph against Al Riyadh.

The man who settled the capital clash was Hamdallah, who himself can be considered an RSL legend given his three league titles, trio of golden boots and his ranking as second on the competition’s all-time scoring list.

On the opposite side of the round’s closing encounter, is fellow captain Karim Benzema who, just like Hamdallah, inspired his team’s victory last time out. In contrast, Benzema opened the scoring, continuing both his fabulous season and his bid to land the league’s golden boot. At present, he has 11 goals, one shy of frontrunner Aleksandar Mitrovic.

So, not only does Al Ittihad against Al Shabab whet the appetite simply because of the history and recent form of the two clubs, but it pits against one another two of the RSL’s superstar strikers. That battle promises to be just as fascinating as the contest itself.