Kingdom Arena is no stranger to hosting heavyweight bouts, and Monday night’s clash between Al Hilal and Al Ahli is the main event of another epic round of Roshn Saudi League action.
After opening a seven-point lead at the summit, back-to-back draws for Al Hilal has seen that advantage cut to only three points and, with eight wins on the bounce, Al Ahli arrive as the RSL’s form team ready to throw the season wide open.
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Victory would see the Jeddah giants draw level with Al Hilal at the summit, while an Al Hilal triumph would keep their rivals at bay and cement them as the team to beat this campaign.
Matches don’t come any bigger than this; just cast the mind back to the corresponding fixture this season and that epic “crazy, wild” Al Ahli comeback. Conveniently, here are five areas in which this return blockbuster bout will be decided.
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Simone Inzaghi vs. Matthias Jaissle
The key battles aren’t just confined to the 22 players on the pitch; the tactical battle between two of the sharpest minds in the RSL will be just as compelling.
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It’s not just the Riyadh-Jeddah divide that separates the coaches, – they also come from different generations, different countries and different schools of football. However, they share a common trait in that both are proven winners.
While each has a clear philosophy, both Inzaghi and Jaissle have demonstrated over several years an adaptability and flexibility with their tactics to achieve the ultimate result.
On the grand stage on Monday, expect both to come armed with more than just one trick up their sleeve to get the upper hand.
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Yassine Bono vs. Edouard Mendy
Now both in their third season in the RSL, the rival goalkeepers are still at the absolute top of their game, with Mendy ranked No.1 in the 2025-26 RSL for clean sheets, keeping seven in his 11 games this season, while Bono isn’t far behind, with four.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the two come head-to-head again just two weeks after meeting in one of the most memorable Africa Cup of Nations finals in living memory.
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On that occasion, it was Mendy who came out on top, saving a late penalty before Senegal went on to win in dramatic fashion in extra-time. Can CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Bono exact a slice of revenge back in club football?
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Kalidou Koulibaly vs. Ivan Toney
No striker in the league is as hot as Toney right now, with 13 goals in his past eight games and, incredibly, two hat-tricks in his past three.
Then factor in his record against Al Hilal, with five goals in his past two games against the Riyadh giants, including a treble in their last clash at Kingdom Arena, in March. Stopping the Englishman is priority No.1, two, and three for Al Hilal.
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In good news for Inzaghi, the match will see Koulibaly return from injury – the 2025 AFCON winner’s availability timely for a side that has gone five games without keeping a clean sheet.
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Ruben Neves vs. Franck Kessie
It’s often said that matches are won in midfield, and this should be exactly where the momentum of this mammoth encounter will be set. Time and again, Neves has demonstrated his importance to this Al Hilal side, just as he did last time out against Al Qadsiah.
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Whether it’s controlling the tempo, his passing into the final third or his set-piece delivery, when Al Hilal win it’s usually on the back of a strong Neves performance. The same is also true of Kessie and his impact on Al Ahli: the Ivorian brings big-game know-how and huge leadership.
Getting on top in midfield will be crucial in deciding the outcome of this one, and Al Ahli have shown – both in recent league matches and on the continent – they are more than capable of going toe-to-toe in that area of the park.
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Salem Al Dawsari vs. Riyad Mahrez
Two of the league’s most mercurial players, this is a showdown of the superstars. Both Al Dawsari and Mahrez are the barometers for their sides, players that offer that spark of creativity to break a game open.
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Al Dawsari showed all his brilliance last time out with a spectacular 90th-minute equaliser against Al Qadsiah, after earlier winning a penalty with some trademark quick feet in the box.
Mahrez, meanwhile, has a wand of a left foot. His first-time touch and control to set up Toney’s opener against Al Ettifaq was exquisite in its apparent ease – to Mahrez, at least.
Which player will land the knockout blow at Kingdom Arena?
