JEDDAH: The Saudi Professional League resumes with six round 12 matches today after a break for the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
In a potentially explosive clash Al-Ahli and Al-Nasr face off in a rematch of their Gulf Clubs Championship final showdown at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium here.
Ahli enters the match with its spirits buoyed by the resounding Gulf Clubs victory. The Jeddah-based club won by an aggregate score of 3-0 having beaten Nasr in the first leg 1-0 and second leg 2-0. Before the match, Ahli management will hold a victory ceremony in honor of the team at the stadium.
Ahli will be looking to use this win to revive its fortunes in the Saudi league, where it occupies seventh place in the standings on 13 points. In contrast Nasr is right in the mix and within striking distance of league leaders Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal. Nasr is fourth in the standings with 18 points.
Hilal will host Abha in Riyadh, looking to get the full three points to close the gap on Ittihad.
The match is a virtual giveaway for Hilal with Abha in the dumps with four points and does not stand a chance against Hilal who is second with 27 points. Al-Raid will host Ittihad in the third match of the round in Buraidah. Like Hilal Ittihad should have no trouble adding to its leading tally of 30 points against the the ninth-ranked Raid with nine points.
Al-Hazem takes on Wehda in the fourth match of the round. Wehda is sixth with 15 points and Al-Hazem 10th with eight points.
Al-Watani of Tabuk entertains the Dammam-based team Al-Ittifaq. Ittifaq is the favored team but Watani could come up with a surprise in this match. Ittifaq is fifth with 17 points and Watani 11th with five points.
The last match of the day pits Najran against Al-Shabab in Najran. Najran, in eighth place with 11 points, is known to stop big teams and pull surprises but Shabab, in third place with 22 points, is unlikely to fall victim to its host.
