Two Wins, One Reality: Is Al Ahli Out of the Saudi Pro League Title Race?
22 November 2025
Hamad Al-Montashri, the legend of Al-Ittihad, ruled out his club’s archrival Al Ahli from contending for the Saudi Pro League title this season, despite two important wins in the last two rounds.
Al Ahli managed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al Qadsiah at the Enmaa Stadium in the ninth round of the Roshen League, a match coming about a week after their derby win against Al Ittihad in Jeddah, thanks to a goal by Algerian star Riyad Mahrez.
Even with those wins, Al Montashri argued that the team’s performance shows they won’t be genuine league contenders this season, suggesting they may settle for the King’s Cup and a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League.
“Al Ahli achieved an important victory, placing them in fourth in the Saudi League ahead of Al Qadsiah,” he stated, adding that the team is “extremely solid” when a defensive game is required. He noted their ability to defend well against both Al Ittihad and Al Qadsiah, while acknowledging that the early goal in the 6th minute forced the challenger to chase the game, which suited Al Ahli’s structure and quick transitions—though those transitions rarely materialized.
“Even when Al Qadsiah equalized, Al Ahli replied quickly with another goal after a minute or two,” Al-Montashri continued. “Yet the attacking ideas are missing; they simply capitalize on opponents’ mistakes.”
He warned that chasing the league title in this fashion would be difficult, and with performances against both Al Ittihad and Al Qadsiah, the team may not win the title. He suggested a best-case scenario of finishing second to fourth, potentially qualifying for the AFC Champions League and winning the King’s Cup.
“From this game you can see the difference between a team that has efficiency and a team that has possession without bite, between those who score at the right moment and those who waste chances.”
What awaits Al Ahli? They will host their UAE counterparts Al Sharjah in the fifth round of Asia’s elite competition, aiming to extend a 22-match unbeaten run in the competition. They sit on 10 points, second in the West Asia group behind Al Hilal (12). Al Ahli also won the last Asian edition of the competition for the first time in their history.
Two wins, one banner for the trophy cabinet—yet the league crown remains a stubbornly distant dream.
Punchline 1: If the title race were a sniper, Al Ahli’s aiming is precise—just not at the trophy shelf. Poke holes in their plan, and they’ll punt the ball to defense like a polite mime. Punchline 2: Their defense is solid enough to joke about, but their attack keeps sending invites to the bench. The trophy RSVP is still pending; apparently, it’s fashionably late to the party.
