The King Fahd Stadium’s floodlights will blaze on April 23 as Al Riyadh squares off against Al Fateh in matchweek 29 of the Saudi Pro League 2024-25 season. Both sides are scrapping for points in a mid-table tangle, with Al Riyadh desperate to snap a four-game winless streak and Al Fateh riding a wave of recent form. This is their second meeting this season, and the stakes feel heavier than the April heat.
Al Riyadh, parked in ninth with a mixed bag of results, stumbled in their last outing, a narrow loss to Al Ettifaq on April 16. The squad’s been drilling hard since, with the club’s official X account posting clips of training sessions on April 20, captioned with a fiery call to avoid past mistakes. Manager Sabri Lamouchi has confirmed no fresh injuries, and the lineup’s expected to lean on the experience of 34-year-old forward Saleh Al Abbas, who’s notched nine goals and four assists in 22 league games this season. His knack for finding space in the final third could be key, though he’s yet to crack Al Fateh’s defense this year. The projected starting XI includes goalkeeper Martin Campana, a back four of Fahad Al Rashidi, Ahmad Asiri, Enzo Roco, and Abdulelah Al Khaibari, with Didier Ndong and Lucas Kal anchoring the midfield. Up top, Al Abbas will likely pair with Nawaf Buwashal, flanked by wingers Ibrahim Bayesh and Wesley Teixeira.
Al Fateh, sitting just two points behind in 11th, have been a different beast lately. Under Jose Gomes, they’ve clawed their way to safety with a string of gritty performances, including a draw against Al Ittihad on April 9. The club’s official X post on April 23 revealed their starting lineup hours before kickoff, with Moroccan star Mourad Batna leading the charge. Batna’s nine goals this season make him a constant headache for defenders, even if he drew a blank against Ittihad. Expect goalkeeper Peter Szappanos to marshal a backline of Sofiane Bendebka, Marwane Saadane, Jason Denayer, and Salem Al Najdi. Midfielders Ali Mukhtar and Mohammed Al Fuhaid will look to control the tempo, while Batna links up with wingers Othman Al Othman and Cristian Tello, with Djaniny up front.
Betting markets are tight, reflecting the sides’ even footing. As of April 22, major sportsbooks list Al Riyadh as slight underdogs at 3.10 to win, with Al Fateh at 2.80 and a draw at 3.20. Over 2.5 goals sits at 1.95, hinting at a potential goal-fest, though both teams have leaned toward cagey affairs recently. First goalscorer odds favor Al Abbas at 6.50 and Batna at 6.00, with a 1-1 scoreline the most backed result at 7.00. Punters eyeing corners might note Al Fateh’s average of 4.8 per game, while Al Riyadh’s matches often see under 9.5 total corners at 1.85.
The referee’s whistle is set to blow at 8:00 PM local time. Al Riyadh’s home crowd will be roaring, but Al Fateh’s recent resilience makes this anyone’s game. No suspensions or major injuries have been reported for either side. The match will stream live on SSC Sports, with in-stadium attendance capped at 25,000 per league protocols. Weather forecasts predict clear skies and 28°C at kickoff.