Mahrez Seeks to Break a 788-Day Drought Against a Saudi Shield

Match context

Riyad Mahrez, Algeria’s star forward for Al-Ahli Saudi FC, is slated to start in a friendly against Saudi Arabia as both nations refine their squads for forthcoming tournaments. The Saudi side prepares for the Arab Cup in Qatar in December, while Algeria eyes the Africa Cup of Nations at the end of the same month.

Mahrez is expected to feature prominently after a substitute appearance in the recent win over Zimbabwe, as coach Vladimir Petković weighs his lineup for the encounter.

Drought, form and past clashes

The Algerian captain hasn’t scored against Nawaf Al-Qaidi, the Saudi goalkeeper, since September 22, 2023 — a drought spanning 788 days. In the first Al-Ahli vs Al-Nassr classic, Mahrez found the net once and set up another, but his side still fell 4-3.

Since then, Al-Nassr’s setup has occasionally seen Brazilian keeper Bento, while Al-Qaidi has remained a goalie kept busy at international duty. When Al-Qaidi was loaned to Al-Fateh last season, Mahrez also failed to hit the target across two meetings, though he did create a goal in one of them.

The Moroccan-born winger will be looking to revisit the goal vein against Al-Qaidi in a match that carries personal significance for Mahrez and a broader regional rivalry.

Road to trophies and a controversial twist

So far this season, Mahrez has played 16 matches, scoring 4 goals and providing 6 assists for a total of 10 goal contributions. He remains highly trusted by the German coach Matthias Jaissle, who relies on him even with other forwards available, such as Brazil’s Matheus Gonçalves.

In the AFC Champions League run, Mahrez has been a decisive force with 9 goals and 8 assists in 13 matches, reflecting his sustained impact for Al-Ahli on Asia’s stage. He also contributed to the Saudi Super Cup victory over Al-Nassr, a trophy surrounded by a legal controversy that has involved the Saudi arbitration center and potential involvement from rival clubs.

The dispute has reshaped discussions around the competition’s legitimacy and future participation, with appeals and counter-appeals shaping the timeline ahead of next season’s schedule.

Two light-hearted notes to end on: 1) If patience were a weapon, Mahrez would be a master marksman—788 days and counting, still loading the net. 2) The goalkeeper’s gloves must be getting a workout; every touch from Mahrez seems to file a fresh complaint with the goalpost’s insurance company.