Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 4 April 2025: The highly anticipated second edition of the Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) Derby Week takes place this weekend, and with three blockbuster fixtures on the schedule, it could prove a defining chapter in the 2024/25 Roshn Saudi League (RSL) season.
Launched earlier this campaign to celebrate Saudi football’s biggest rivalries in a single match week, Derby Week has quickly become a key highlight on the RSL calendar, both locally and globally. It now returns and the stakes couldn’t be higher. From the top of the table to the fierce fight for AFC Champions League Elite qualification, every match carries major implications.
The festivities get underway on Friday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, where defending champions Al Hilal face rivals Al Nassr in the Capital Derby. This is always a headline fixture and once again carries massive weight.
Al Hilal enter the match second in the RSL table on 57 points, four behind leaders Al Ittihad. A win on Friday would keep Jorge Jesus’ side firmly in the title race and apply immediate pressure to Al-Ittihad ahead of their own derby 24 hours later.
Jorge Jesus, Al Hilal manager, said: “We know exactly what this match means, not just to the fans, but to our ambitions. We’re chasing the title, and any slip now could be decisive. We’ve prepared for every scenario, and I believe in the mentality of this group heading into the derby.”
Salem Al Dawsari, Al Hilal captain, said: “We are giving our all to keep competing for the top. Against Al Nassr, there’s no room for anything less than full intensity. The fans expect it, and we’re ready to deliver it.”
For Al Nassr, the stakes are just as high. Sitting third with 51 points, Stefano Pioli’s are locked in a tense battle to secure AFC Champions League Elite football next season. Victory over their biggest rivals would go a long way toward sealing their spot.
Stefano Pioli, Al Nassr manager, said: “This isn’t just a rivalry, it’s a crucial game in the race for AFC Champions League Elite qualification. We’ve studied Al Hilal closely. They’re strong, but we’re confident we can match them and take the points.”
Aymeric Laporte, Al Nassr defender, told the SPL website: “Big match, massive for us, for them also because it’s always important for both teams to win these kinds of games. Now we’re in the last part of the season, so a big moment and we have to try to get the three points. We know it is always difficult, especially in this game, because they’re a direct rival for us and so we’ll try our best to win this… we have to do our best to win.”
With stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Aleksandar Mitrović and Rúben Neves all expected to start, this edition of the Riyadh Derby has the potential to be an instant classic.
Derby Week continues on Saturday, starting with the Eastern Province Derby between Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
This fixture has been further elevated this season thanks to the remarkable rise of Al Qadsiah. Promoted just last year, the Dammam club sit fourth in the table, level on points with Al Nassr and in strong contention to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite. Michel’s side are also through to the King’s Cup final.
On the other side, Al Ettifaq have stabilized since the return of Saad Al Shehri for a second spell as manager in January and now occupy seventh in the RSL standings. A derby win would be a big statement and a potential springboard to finish the campaign strongly.
Derby Week ends with a bang in Jeddah on Saturday as two powerhouses of Saudi football collide at Alinma Stadium. Al Ittihad face rivals Al Ahli at the top of the table on 81 points and in pole position to reclaim the title they last won in 2023.
Led by Laurent Blanc and spearheaded by Karim Benzema, Al Ittihad know a win in the Sea Derby would keep them clear of Al Hilal heading into the final stretch of the season. The league leaders are also on course for the domestic double having reached the King’s Cup final.
Al Ahli, meanwhile, sit fifth in the RSL, just three points behind Al Nassr and Al Qadsiah in the race for continental qualification. With 16-goal Ivan Toney enjoying a prolific debut season, Matthias Jaissle’s side could play spoiler while reigniting their own ambitions in the process.
With massive crowds expected and a large global audience, Derby Week is once again set to deliver the drama, intensity, and quality that defines Saudi football.
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