Founding Memories Spark a Classic XI: Jaissle Names Al-Ahli’s Starting Line for Al Khidoud Clash
10 January 2026
Match Preview
German coach Matias Jaissle announced Al-Ahli’s starting XI for the Round 14 clash with Al Khidoud in the Saudi Pro League.
The match is set for Saturday evening at the Prince Hezbol bin Abdulaziz Sports City, the home venue of Al Khidoud.
The club’s official account noted the selections in a classic return-to-origins moment, honoring the founding anniversary on January 9, 1937.
Al-Ahli’s lineup carried a nostalgic touch, with players sporting retro hairstyles and moustaches that whispered of a bygone era.
Jaissle made two changes from the previous meeting against Al-Nassr, bringing back Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez from suspension and starting Enzo Miu in midfield at the expense of Valentin Atangana, while Ali Mgrashi was left out.
The Brazilian newcomer Matias was also named among the substitutes for the first time.
Lineups announced for the duel:
Al-Ahli: Goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Saibi; Defence: Muhammad Bakr, Merih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, Zakaria Housawi; Midfield: Ziyad Al-Jehani, Enzo Miu, Matheus Goncalves; Attack: Wenderson Galeno, Firas Al-Briqan, Ivan Toni.
On the bench were: Eid Al-Moul, Fahd Al-Rashidi, Ryan Hamid, Abdullah Abdu, Ibrahim Azam, Matheus Dams, Yazan Madani, Ricardo Matias, Ramiz Al-Attar.
Al-Khidoud’s set-up, announced by coach Somodika, featured: GK Samuel; Defence: Abu Eid, Al-Rubaei, Gökhan, Asiri, Al-Salem; Midfield: Petros, Pedroza, Al-Harthi; Attack: Burak, Cramer. On the bench: Rakan Al-Najjar, Quari Gunter, Mohan Al-Qeidi, Ibrahim Asha, Hussein Al-Zaidani, Saud Al-Rehan, Matheu Borel, Mohammed Naif, Abdulaziz Hatelah.
Jaissle’s XI included two changes from the previous clash against the old rivals, continuing a classic approach while the team navigates a busy schedule.
Fans were treated to a lineup that leaned into tradition while keeping room for new faces off the bench, underscoring a blend of history and modern squad management.
And yes, if you’re translating football into humor, imagine a tactical diagram that looks like a family photo—everyone wearing a proud grin and questionable haircut choices from yesteryear. It’s a founding celebration, after all, not a fashion show.
Final thought: if the match were a history class, Jaissle’s XI would be the chapter on nostalgia, with a footnote saying “contents may cause retro fever.”
And for the fans: if tactics were jokes, this game would be a sold-out stand-up with hair gel as the opener. Expect a few clever twists before the final whistle.
