Al-Ahli vs Al-Riyadh: A Clash of Strategies in Saudi League

Marino Pusic has gone all-in.

For Al-Ahli’s clash with Al-Riyadh in the fifth round of the Saudi league, the coach has rolled out an aggressive, front-foot lineup built around a bold attacking trident of Francisco Trincao, Wanderson Galeno and Ivan Toney.

Al-Ahli go on the offensive

Edouard Mendy starts in goal, the experienced keeper anchoring a back four of Rayan Hamed, Mohammed Bakr, Roger Ibanez and Saad Balobaid. It’s a unit tasked with giving the stars further forward the freedom to attack without fear.

In midfield, Valentin Atangana and Artem Bondarenko provide the engine and balance, while Edward Spertsyan is handed the creative brief between the lines, expected to feed the wide runners and Toney through the middle.

Up front, it’s pure intent: Trincao from the right, Galeno from the left, and Toney leading the line. Pace, trickery, and a penalty-box finisher. Pusic has made his statement.

Al-Ahli XI: Edouard Mendy; Rayan Hamed, Mohammed Bakr, Roger Ibanez, Saad Balobaid; Valentin Atangana, Artem Bondarenko; Edward Spertsyan; Francisco Trincao, Wanderson Galeno, Ivan Toney.

Al-Riyadh aim to stand firm

Al-Riyadh respond with a side that looks built to compete physically and stay compact, with Milan Borjan in goal and a back line marshalled by Abdelilah Al-Khaibari and Rodrigo Abascal.

Sultan Al-Issa and Sulaiman Hazazi take the full-back roles, while Fahad Jizani and Victor Lekhal sit in midfield to shield the defence and disrupt Al-Ahli’s rhythm. Teddy Okou and Issam Bahri offer support in advanced areas, with Hassan Al-Ali providing the threat up front.

Al-Riyadh XI: Milan Borjan; Sultan Al-Issa, Abdelilah Al-Khaibari, Rodrigo Abascal, Sulaiman Hazazi; Fahad Jizani, Victor Lekhal; Teddy Okou, Issam Bahri, Hassan Al-Ali.

Two very different approaches. One side loaded with attacking firepower, the other braced to absorb and counter. Now it’s down to 90 minutes to show whose plan holds.