MW14 Talking Points: Al Nassr slip again, Benzema back, Al Shabab drop

With games coming thick and fast, there’s barely any time to breathe in the Roshn Saudi League - and don’t we just love it.

Matchweek 14 provided yet more narratives and fallout, with top dogs Al Hilal registering a 10th win on the bounce and concluding the round with an extended, four-point lead over second-placed Al Nassr.

However, that was simply one of the storylines to unfold across three days of engrossing action...

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Al Nassr need to rally

After 10 matches, Al Nassr perched at the summit, four points ahead of closet challengers, and Riyadh rivals, Al Hilal. Three games on, though, and roles have been reversed.

Al Hilal saw off Al Hazem 3-0 to go four points clear and Al Nassr, playing later that night, were beaten 2-1 at home by Al Qadsiah. It extended their winless run to three - previous to that, Al Nassr created history by winning their opening 10 RSL matches - while it marked a second successive defeat.

Afterwards, Kingsley Coman vowed Al Nassr would get back to winning ways immediately. And what does that entail? Only the season’s first Capital Derby, at Al Hilal, on Monday. Can they stop the rot?

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Benzema back with bang

It felt somewhat incongruous that, since his incredible 2024-25 season and his hat-trick on the opening day of this campaign, that Karim Benzema had added only one more goal to his tally. Yes, he missed a few matches through injury, but the Al Ittihad captain is too good to not be challenging for the golden boot.

So, at Al Kholood, Benzema resolved to fix that. The Frenchman struck a first-half hat-trick, the treble coming during a mere 22-minute spell. With it, it set up the RSL champions’ 4-0 victory, a fifth league win on the trot and moved them - temporarily - into the top five.

Nevertheless, Sergio Conceicao’s Al Ittihad are surging: they sit only five points off Al Nassr in second.

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Al Taawoun’s staying power

While Al Ittihad are back in contention for the top four, and maybe even a belated title bid, Al Taawoun have been there all season. That, of course, barring that 5-0 defeat at home to Al Nassr in Matchweek 1. But since, Pericles Chamusca’s men have been formidable, winning 10 of 12 matches to push as high as second.

However, the narrow loss at Al Ittihad last time out threatened to check their progress. But how did they respond? With a 2-0 win at home to Al Shabab, where Roger Martinez got his eighth goal of a standout season.

As it is, Al Taawoun stay third, but level on 31 points with Al Nassr and that four behind Al Hilal. The Wolves are back on the prowl.

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Al Shabab slip into drop zone

Another week, another defeat for the 2011-12 RSL champions. Al Shabab’s 2-0 reverse in Buraidah represented their fourth successive defeat and saw them drop into the bottom three for the first time this season.

However, even more worrying has been the lack of discipline in the past two rounds: just like in Matchweek 13, Al Shabab concluded the game against Al Taawoun, rather incredibly, with nine men after Mohammed Al Shuwerikh and Abdullah Matuq were sent off.

It’s depriving under-pressure manager Imanol Alguacil of options going forward, especially with a well-stocked NEOM Sports Club coming to the capital on Wednesday.

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Sumudica gets tough welcome

The latest managerial change in the RSL was confirmed last week, when Marius Sumudica succeeded Paulo Sergio at Al Okhdood.

The colourful Romanian is no stranger to the Saudi Arabian top flight having previously managed Al Shabab - in two different stints - and Al Raed. With the latter, in the 2022-23 campaign, Sumudica guided his side to an impressive 10th-placed finish in the table.

It’s that sort of impact, then, that Al Okhdood are after, given they languish second from bottom with a solitary win from 13 outings this term.

OK, a home clash with Al Ahli wasn’t the nicest welcome back - the Asian champions prevailed 1-0 - but Sumudica will be eager to get his new team up and running. That next opportunity falls on Tuesday, when Al Okhdood host Al Kholood.