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Saudi Pro League | Gameweek 34
May 26, 2025 at 7pm UK
Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

Al Riyadh
0 - 1
Al-Ahli


Assiri (24'), Selemani (49')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Toney (16' pen.)
Yaslam (45+6'), Albirakan (53'), Demiral (60')

Preview: Al Riyadh vs. Al-Ahli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Saudi Pro League clash between Al Riyadh and Al-Ahli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Seeking to end the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League campaign in the top half of the table, Al Riyadh host Al-Ahli on Monday at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.

Earlier this week, Riyadh dropped to ninth with a 3-1 defeat at Al-Taawoun, while Al-Ahli secured, at worst, a top-five finish despite a 3-1 defeat versus Al-Ettifaq.


Match preview

 Ivan Toney of Al-Ahlie pictured on April 5, 2025© Imago

A challenging 2025 domestic campaign will end for Al Riyadh on Monday, with this team losing their last two league fixtures, conceding three goals both times.

This will be the last opportunity for Bandar Al-Kubaishan to win a match at home this season since taking over from Sabri Lamouchi in April, as his side have claimed just one point in his three matches in charge in Riyadh.

With a victory on Monday, this team would guarantee a place in the top half of the table for the first time since the league expanded to 18 teams a season ago.

Al Riyadh have conceded 51 goals in 31 league fixtures this season, the most among teams currently in the top half of the table.

Regardless of how they fare on Monday, Al Riyadh have already collected more points domestically in 2024-25 (38) than they had in their return campaign to the Saudi top flight in 2023-24 (35).

They have a chance to win consecutive home games against Al-Ahli for the first time on Monday, having triumphed 2-1 in this exact fixture last season.

 Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy pictured on May 11, 2025© Imago

While 2025 was a rough one for Al Riyadh, it was the opposite for Al-Ahli, who have come to life domestically throughout the year.

Matthias Jaissle's men have lost just three Pro League fixtures in 2025 and dropped points on only five occasions in this competition.

Al-Raqi enter this contest on a four-match winning run in this competition, with a chance to equal their longest such streak domestically with another triumph on Monday.

Two of their three defeats in the Saudi top flight this year have occurred away from home, though they have won their last two matches as the visitors in this competition.

It is likely they will finish fifth in the table as they trail Al-Nassr by three points for fourth but have a big goal difference to make up.

Al-Ahli have won two of their last three matches versus Al Riyadh, but they have not won an away game against them since 2022 (2-0).

Al Riyadh Saudi Pro League form:

Al-Ahli Saudi Pro League form:


Al-Ahli form (all competitions):



Team News

Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle pictured on May 11, 2025© Imago

Earlier this month Al Riyadh lost Enzo Roco to an unknown injury, and that may keep him on the sidelines for Monday's season finale.

Enes Sali netted the opener versus Al-Taawoun on Tuesday before Faiz Selemani put them up by two shortly after, which was ultimately not enough to earn them anything.

In their mid-week loss to Al-Ettifaq, Al-Ahli were missing Galeno due to a hip injury, and Abdullah Otayf was unavailable because of a cruciate ligament tear.

Ivan Toney converted a sixth-minute penalty to temporarily put them ahead in that match, his 22nd of the campaign, two fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo for top scorer in this competition.

Al Riyadh possible starting lineup:
Borjan; Tambakti, Al-Menhali, Barbet, Al-Khaibari; Al-Abed, Mensah, Zidan, Sali; Toze; Selemani

Al-Ahli possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Majrashi, Demiral, Ibanez, Balobaid; Al-Johani, Kessie; Mahrez, Al-Buraikan, Al-Nabit; Toney


SM words green background© PA Photos

We say: Al Riyadh 1-3 Al-Ahli

There are too many holes in the Al Riyadh backline for us to believe they can fix it all even in a meaningless game, especially against the kind of attacking talent they will be facing on Monday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.



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Written by
Joel Lefevre

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Game History

How you voted: Al Riyadh vs Al-Ahli

Al Riyadh
33.3%
Draw
6.7%
Al-Ahli
60.0%
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rhs 2.0
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CAl Ittihad34265379354483
2Al-HilalAl-Hilal34236595415475
3Al-Nassr34217680384270
4Al Quadisiya34215853312268
5Al-AhliAl-Ahli34214969363367
6Al ShababAl Shabab341861065412460
7Al Ettifaq34148124445-150
8Al-TaawounAl-Taawoun34129134039145
9Al Kholood34124184264-2240
10Al Fateh34116174761-1439
11Al Riyadh34108163752-1538
12Al Khaleej34107174057-1737
13Al Fayha34812142749-2236
14Damac3498173750-1335
15Al Okhdood3497183356-2334
16Al WahdaAl Wahda3496194267-2533
17Al Orubah3493223174-4330
RAl RaedAl Raed3463254166-2521


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