Carrasco Sparks Light in a Grim Season: Can He Save Al Shabab?

Carrasco as the season’s lone bright spark

Yannick Carrasco, the Belgian veteran who starred for Atletico Madrid, has been the main source of goals for Al Shabab this season. The Lions have collected just two victories across all competitions, with four losses and four draws, as fans hoped for a turnaround that never fully arrived.

He has scored 7 goals in 12 appearances this term, with 2 in the cup, 4 in the league, and 1 in the Gulf competition. His goals have frequently come at decisive moments, but they have not translated into sustained success for the team.

Team woes, coach's fate, and derby drama

Under Spanish coach Emmanuel Al-Jawasiel, the team has struggled in a challenging group featuring rivals and foreign opposition, failing to secure comfortable wins and sitting near the bottom of the standings.

Absent star Hamdallah due to injury and the departure of Haroun Kamara to Al Nassr, Carrasco has shouldered an even heavier load. In domestic league play, Al Shabab have lost to big clubs and drawn too often, while only a fleeting victory over a struggling opponent boosted morale.

Derbies canceled and what lies ahead

Saudi Pro League authorities canceled the traditional Derby Round for this season to ease fixture congestion amid a heavy schedule due to the forthcoming FIFA Arab Cup in December and other Asian commitments. The move, part of a broader effort to correct previous season's issues, means fans won't see three city derbies in a single round this year.

Punchline 1: Carrasco’s goals are like espresso for a sleepy league—they wake up the team, but the rest of the squad still needs to get out of bed.

Punchline 2: If this season were a sniper drill, Carrasco would be the one target you actually want to hit the bullseye—consistently.