Goals, Grohe, Carrasco, Hamdallah: How Al Shabab begin climb to safety

Safe to say, this Roshn Saudi League season has been incredibly difficult for Al Shabab.

A fourth straight defeat last time out, albeit at high-flying Al Taawoun, saw the 2011-12 champions slip into the relegation zone as the 2025-26 campaign edges closer to the halfway mark.

Can the capital club turn it around? History suggests they can, with Al Fateh escaping a similarly precarious position last year. However, to do so, Al Shabab need to straighten a few things out.

Here are five areas they need to improve to save their season, starting with Wednesday’s Matchweek 15 encounter at home to NEOM Sports Club.

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Stop the rot

It’s been a nightmare week on the disciplinary front with four red cards in their past two games, against Al Fateh and Al Taawoun.

It’s hard enough to win a game with 11 men, and then 10, but it’s almost impossible with nine, as Al Shabab have been reduced to in recent matches.

With another sending off coming against Al Ahli back in October when, admirably, they rescued a point after going down to 10 men, they share the dubious honour of receiving the most red cards this season, alongside Damac.

Not only does it make life difficult in-game, but also in the following matches when key players are forced to sit out. For sure, Al Shabab must curb their on-pitch disciplinary issues.

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Giving away goals

Al Shabab are far from the worst defensive team this season having conceded only 20 times. Indeed, it’s the best record of any side in the bottom half - but it could also be so much better.

Not only have they given away the most reds this season, but they’ve also conceded the highest amount of penalties, with six. Furthermore, Imanol Alguacil’s side have kept a mere two clean sheets, their last coming all the way back in Matchweek 3 against Al Fayha.

Despite that, they actually boast one of the best records when it comes to shots faced - they rank fifth in the league - with only heavy-hitters Al Nassr, Al Ahli, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad having faced fewer.

If Al Shabab can tighten up and stop giving away penalties, that defensive solidity can be a base from which to build.

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Improving at other end

Penalties aside, Al Shabab’s issue isn’t necessarily conceding goals, it’s scoring them. With nine goals through 13 games, they have the equal-worst scoring record, together with Al Okhdood.

Interesting, they fare OK for total shots, with 151 being middle of the road compared to other teams. However, their shot conversion of six percent constitutes the worst in the league. Also, their shooting accuracy, at 39.8, percent represents the third worst.

With that, Al Shabab possess the biggest differential in the league between goals scored (9) and xG (14.9), with a difference of -5.9.

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In the absence of Abderrazak Hamdallah, second in the all-time RSL scoring charts but who this term has made four league appearances and thus has one goal to his name, there’s been a lack of alternatives to step forward and fill the void.

So, Alguacil will look to the likes of Yannick Carrasco, Unai Hernandez, Abdullah Matouq (now suspended) and Josh Brownhill to step up. And for Hamdallah, fresh from helping Morocco capture the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, to get a protected run of games.

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Getting on the ball

Possession for possession’s sake isn’t the answer, but it’s also true that, if you have the ball, the opposition cannot score. And, put simply, Al Shabab don’t have the ball often enough.

Alguacil's side rank as one of the lowest for average possession and sit third last in terms of total passes and second last for accuracy (they no doubt miss reigning RSL Young Player of the Year, Musab Al Juwayr, now at Al Qadsiah).

With elite talent such as Brownhill, Carrasco, Yacine Adli and Vincent Sierro, Al Shabab's ability on the ball isn’t in question. Yet perhaps their tactics and approach need tweaking to give themselves a chance to stamp their authority on games.

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Simple - start winning

It’s self-evident, but what Al Shabab need more than anything is to win a game of football. Their only victory this season came in Matchweek 2 against Al Hazem, and since then it’s been months of woe.

It’s impossible to quantify with stats and numbers, but the morale boost from simply gaining three points from a match cannot be overstated.

Just look at Al Fateh, both last season and this, and how a win or two (or five…) on the bounce can suddenly flip your fortunes. Triumph, and it alters the team dynamic, not to mention the overall mood around the club.

For sure, Al Shabab will be far from a happy place to be right now. Still, if they can get the monkey off their back and get back on a winning track, beginning at home to NEOM SC, things can turn around quickly. That’ll be the hope, at least.