The opening fixture of matchday 1 in the Saudi Pro League will take place at the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, where the much-talked-about Al-Ahli will play host to Al Hazem on Friday evening.
Both the hosts and visitors are returning to the top flight this season after finishing first and second respectively in the Saudi First Division last season, where they were separated by just four points in the final standings.
Match preview
It is fair to say that it has been a very difficult few years for Al-Ahli, going from challenging for a Saudi Pro League title as recently as the 2017-18 season to relegation in the space of just three seasons.
However, having secured promotion at the first time of asking, the Royals will be hoping to return to their glory days and will see this as the perfect opportunity to get their season off to a positive start, especially with several high-profile signings arriving over the break.
The hosts were impressive in their First Division League campaign, securing 72 points in their 34 games with a record of 21 wins, nine draws, and four losses while maintaining the league's best defensive record of just 24 goals conceded.
Al Ahli have been the dominant side in this encounter over the years and are unbeaten against this opponent in their last five encounters (W3 D2 L0), which is a record that dates all the way back to October 2019.
Like their opponents, Al Hazem were also relegated in the 2021-22 season and bounced straight back up last season. However, they will be hoping to stay in the top flight a little longer this time, having flopped back and forth regularly over the last decade.
The visitors finished last season with 68 points and a record of 20 wins, eight draws and six losses, and at one point were on a run of 10 matches unbeaten before they suffered back-to-back defeats against Al Jabalain and Al Faisaly.
Still, they made the end of the season an interesting contest with four consecutive wins and a draw in their last six matches and stayed in the title race right until the penultimate match of the season when Al-Ahli beat Al-Qadsiah to secure the title.
Al Hazem's major downfall last term was their away form in the first half of the campaign when they managed just two wins in their first eight matches, which included a 1-0 loss to this opponent.
Team News
The hosts have been very active in the transfer window and have most recently acquired the service of now ex-Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, though this match may have come too soon for him to make the starting 11.
Among the recently arrived cavalry is the former English Premier League midfield duo Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin, who will likely slot straight into the side, with Bassam Al-Hurayji likely to make his debut in defence in front of Edouard Mendy.
Meanwhile, the visitors have also made a few additions to their squad, albeit they have not splashed the cash the way their opponents have.
Among the new arrivals is former Coritiba defender Bruno Viana on a loan move, and winger Faiz Selemani, who was signed from Kortrijk for a fee in the region of £1.3m.
Al-Ahli possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Alioski, Al-Hamad, Hindi, Al-Hurayji; Otayf, Barrow, Saint-Maximin, Al-Rashidi, Mahrez; Firmino
Al Hazem possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Viana, Ricardo, Tanker, Al-Dakeel; Al-Bakr, Al-Habashi, Vina, Toze, Selemani; Al-Shammari,
We say: Al-Ahli 3-1 Al Hazem
With an almost entirely overhauled squad that now features players that have experience at the very highest level of football, Al Ahli are a side that are expected to do well this season, and we expect they get going with a solid win in their first match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
