RSL Derby Week Reviewed: The Big Takeaways | OneFootball

Derby Week has delivered once again in the Roshn Saudi League, with a thrilling weekend of drama unspooling right across the country.

From Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace to Karim Benzema’s last-gasp equaliser, or Georginio Wijnaldum’s continued excellence, there were no shortage of storylines and talking points to emerge from the RSL’s second-ever Derby Week, in which the title race took another turn.

Ronaldo shines as Al Nassr remain in hunt

Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved so much in the two-and-a-bit years since he signed for Al Nassr.

But one thing has, much to his obvious frustration, eluded him until this point: an RSL win, or even a league goal, against Capital Derby rivals Al Hilal.

But, on Friday, the wait suddenly felt worth it after Al Nassr’s 3-1 triumph against the reigning champions, thrusting Ronaldo and Co back into the title hunt and, in the process, dealing a serious blow to Al Hilal’s fortunes.

Not only did Al Nassr emerge victorious from Kingdom Arena, but it was Ronaldo who inflicted the damage with a superb double to lead his team to a win they’ve wanted so badly. The goals, his 69th and 70th in the RSL, lifted him inside the top 10 in the competition's all-time scorers list.

Still third but now only three points behind Al Hilal, and eight back from Al Ittihad at the summit - both of whom dropped points across the weekend – Al Nassr’s faint title hopes remain alive.

Al Ittihad let slip golden opportunity

Having seen their nearest title challengers potentially lose ground the previous night, the opportunity was there for Al Ittihad to deal Al Hilal a double blow and cement their place at the top of the league - and maybe even put one hand on the top-flight trophy with eight games remaining.

As it was, Al Ittihad can be thankful they extended their lead by a solitary point after Karim Benzema struck deep in stoppage-time in the Sea Derby against Al Ahli in Jeddah to rescue a 2-2 draw.

However, after Al Ittihad’s empathic 4-1 win against Al Hilal in the Saudi Clasico in February, that’s now four draws from their past five RSL matches. With Al Hilal losing two of their past four, Laurent Blanc’s men have let slip a glorious opportunity to be out of sight at the summit.

Al Hilal’s misfortunes continue

For a side that looked completely untouchable all last season, and through the first half of this campaign, Al Hilal suddenly appear rather vulnerable.

The 3-1 defeat to Al Nassr, their first loss to their crosstown rivals since December 2021, was their third in their past six across all competitions - a run of form that is almost unheard of in recent years at the Riyadh giants.

While Al Hilal are fortunate Al Ittihad didn’t fully cash in on their slip up, the string of losses has seen them fall into the clutches of Al Nassr, who are right on their tail in challenging for second spot – or even the title.

With 2023-24 RSL Manager of the Season Jorge Jesus feeling the pressure a little, for the first time in a long time, things aren't all going Al Hilal’s way.

Al Qadsiah lose touch with top

It wasn’t long ago that Al Qadsiah were inside the top three and eyeing even further glory this season, but their 1-1 draw in the Eastern Derby against Al Ettifaq makes it three RSL outings without a win (and one victory in their past five).

Where they had climbed to third, the Al Khobar club have now dropped a spot, falling two points adrift of Al Nassr in third and now 10 points behind Al Ittihad.

With teams above Al Qadsiah, chiefly Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, failing to rack up wins in recent matches, it’s a real inopportune time to hit a slump in form, as it’s conceivable Michel’s men could be as high as second and within touching distance of top spot.

They need to quickly regroup, though. After Al Qadsiah face Al Fayha this Saturday in Matchweek 27, they welcome Ronaldo and Al Nassr to the East Coast.

And, with the Riyadh juggernaut just a few points ahead, that looms as a decisive fixture for both teams in the run-in towards a successful conclusion to the campaign.

Al Ahli left to rue late lapse

It was a performance that perhaps best encapsulated Al Ahli’s season so far: so good for so long but coming up a little short at the death.

After a shaky start to the season, until recent weeks Matthias Jaissle's team had been the in-form side of the entire competition; if results were calculated only from November, when their fortunes began to turn, they’d have been top of the table.

But a momentary lapse in the Sea Derby left the door ajar, and Al Ittihad made their city rivals pay full price with Benzema’s 94th-minute strike. After conceding twice in stoppage-time to drop all three points against Al Okhdood last time out, their late lulls in concentration are proving costly.

It now makes it three RSL matches without a win, Al Ahli’s worst run this season and sees them lose touch with the top four above them. Sitting fifth, they are three points back from Al Qadsiah and another two off Al Nassr - and a second successive third-place finish.

As Al Ettifaq have fought to recover after a disappointing start to the season, one man has been at the heart of their resurgence in recent months: Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Dutch international has been in scintillating form under new manager Saad Al Shehri, with his goal and performance at the weekend exemplifying the principal role played in turning around the Dammam club’s fortunes (albeit the 1-1 draw in the Eastern Derby dropped Al Ettifaq one place to eighth).

Despite that, however, there has been a noticeable uptick in performances since Al Shehri replaced Steven Gerrard, especially from Wijnaldum. His equaliser against Al Qadsiah made it seven goals and two assists in nine games under the Saudi coach's tutelage.

Certainly, the former Liverpool midfielder is leading from the front as Al Ettifaq look to mix it with the league’s best.

This Friday's home encounter with Al Hilal therefore presents another huge opportunity. With the champion seemingly wounded, there’s never been a better time to claim what would constitute a major victory – and, if Al Ettifaq do, expect Wijnaldum to be at its centre.