Passion on the Rebound: Jaissle Extends His Run at Al-Ahli as They Target a Clash with Al-Gharafa
19 October 2025
German coach Matthias Jaissle of Al-Ahli Saudi FC says he hasn’t lost his spark after renewing his contract, despite the team’s downturn. He and his players are gearing up for a crucial AFC Champions League Elite clash against Al-Gharafa in Jeddah’s Al-Enmaa Stadium.
Since the renewal, Al-Ahli have played seven matches across three competitions, recording two wins (4-2 vs Nasaf and 2-0 vs Al-Hazm). They’ve drawn four times (0-0 vs Ettifaq, 3-3 vs Al-Hilal, 1-1 vs Al-Shabab, 2-2 vs Al-Duhail) and suffered a defeat to Pyramids 1-3 in the FIFA Club World Cup, which cost them a semi-final appearance.
The Renewal Curse
During a pre-match press conference, Jaissle was asked how the contract renewal might influence results. He replied that it isn’t about the contract and invited observers to spend a full workday with the squad to see the passion and hard work. “The contract isn’t the issue; I need the response from all the players,” he said.
On September 4, Al-Ahli announced a two-year extension through 2027, with an option for a third year to 2028, replacing the former deal.
Match Preview
Looking ahead to the Al-Gharafa game, Jaissle acknowledged the challenge, especially after a 1-1 draw with Al-Shabab just days earlier. “It’s not easy to play after a setback; we’re back in Asia with enthusiasm, and our fans will give us extra motivation,” he said. “Fans have every right to be upset; we share the disappointment and will try to make amends.”
Valentin Atangana, Al-Ahli’s young midfielder, also warned of a tough test, noting: “Al-Gharafa will be difficult; our last Asian result was a draw with Al-Duhail, and we want to show our best tonight.” They had previously drawn with Al-Duhail 2-2 in the group stage’s second round.
Gharafa Coach Takes on Al-Ahli
Portuguese boss Pedro Martins of Al-Gharafa said his side came here to win, even if the game is staged at Al-Enmaa. “We came here to claim victory; our spirits are high, and we’ve studied Al-Ahli well. They haven’t changed much from last season,” he said. He also congratulated Qatar on reaching the 2026 World Cup, noting several of his players are in the national squad.
“Congrats to the national team; it’s great that some of our players are in the squad,” he added.
A High-Stakes Battle
The match is pivotal in the push for the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage. Al-Ahli sit second in the Western group on four points (4-2 win over Nasaf, 2-2 draw with Duhail). They trail the leaders by two points and sit tied with Sharjah, Shabab Al-Ahli, and Al-Wahda on points, with goal difference the tiebreaker in this dense cluster. Al-Gharafa occupy sixth with three points after an opening loss to Sharjah (3-4) and a 2-0 win over Al-Shorta.
As the group’s opening phase progresses, the first eight teams in the West advance to the Round of 16, with four of those eventually facing East group contenders in the quarters.
With the stage set, both sides will look to seize momentum in a fixture that could shape the rest of the campaign—and perhaps, the narrative in the stands will be louder than the scoreboard for once.
Punchline time: if Jaissle’s pep were a currency, the contract renewal would fund a league of dreamers—and a few extra coffees for the bench. And if sarcasm paid dividends, Al-Gharafa would already be buying the trophy. Sniper-level precision, folks, because this match is aiming right for the sweet spot of drama and drama-free goals.
