Even though the Roshn Saudi League has hit the pause button for a bit, the football action is far from over. In fact, things are heating up in a big way with the King's Cup quarter-finals taking over this Friday and Saturday. The best part? It’s an all-RSL affair, meaning we’re guaranteed some high-stakes drama as league rivals battle for cup glory. All eyes are on last season’s champions, Al Ittihad, to see if they can defend their crown.
Key Highlights
- ✓ The King's Cup quarter-finals feature an all-Roshn Saudi League lineup of eight teams.
- ✓ Defending champions Al Ittihad are determined to retain the trophy they won last season.
- ✓ Two quarter-final matches are direct rematches from the thrilling Matchweek 9 of the RSL.
- ✓ Al Hilal enters their match on a blistering winning streak of 11 games across all competitions.
- ✓ History-makers Al Kholood are making their first-ever appearance in the cup's final eight.
Déjà Vu in Jeddah and Riyadh
How’s this for an interesting twist? Two of our quarter-final matchups are instant rematches from the RSL's Matchweek 9. First up, we have Al Ahli hosting Al Qadsiah in what promises to be an absolute firecracker in Jeddah. Al Ahli have been proving themselves as true cup specialists lately, having already bagged the AFC Champions League Elite crown in May and the Saudi Super Cup in August. They are one of only three teams still unbeaten in the league this season and are coming in hot.
Just last Friday, they secured a 2-1 victory over this very same Al Qadsiah side. The big story from that game was the return of Galeno, who didn't waste any time announcing he was back to full fitness. He found the back of the net just six minutes into his return, setting the tone for his team. You can bet Al Qadsiah will be out for immediate revenge, especially since that loss saw them drop a spot to fifth in the table, swapping places with Al Ahli.
Michel's Al Qadsiah side has hit a bit of a rough patch recently, but with Mateo Retegui making a brilliant RSL debut and the reigning RSL Young Player of the Year, Musab Al Juwayr, pulling the strings in midfield, they have every reason to believe they can make a run to a second straight King's Cup final.
The Champions vs. The Underdogs
The other rematch sees the 2023-24 RSL champions, Al Hilal, take on a struggling Al Fateh. Just this past weekend, Al Hilal scraped by with a 2-1 win at Kingdom Arena, but it was anything but easy. They had to fight for it, with Darwin Nunez getting them level before Ruben Neves sealed the deal with a penalty just two minutes from the final whistle. That victory pushed them to second in the league and extended their incredible winning streak to eleven games in all competitions.
Having secured the double last season, just like Al Ittihad did the year before, you know manager Simone Inzaghi is hungry to keep the silverware coming in his first year. On the flip side, Al Fateh are in a tough spot. Lying second from the bottom in the league with only a single win all season, the King's Cup is their chance for some much-needed relief. It's a massive ask, though, facing a team in such red-hot form. Manager Jose Gomes will need a truly inspired performance from his squad, leaning on players like Mourad Batna and Matias Vargas to create some magic.
Clash of Narratives: History-Makers vs. Entertainers
Now let's turn to a fascinating matchup between Al Kholood and Al Khaleej. Al Kholood are rewriting their club's history books. After making their RSL debut last season, they became the league's first foreign-owned club over the summer. Now, they've reached the King's Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever. It's a huge achievement, but their current form is a cause for concern.
Des Buckingham's team comes into this clash on a four-game losing streak in the top flight, a run that was capped by a painful 2-1 loss in the first-ever Ar Rass derby against Al Hazem. That defeat dropped them to 11th in the table, and you can bet they'll be desperate to turn their fortunes around in the cup. This game represents a massive opportunity to inject some positivity back into their season.
Meanwhile, Al Khaleej have been one of the RSL's most exciting stories. They currently sit a respectable sixth in the table, and while they just suffered a 4-1 loss to league leaders Al Nassr—a match featuring that Cristiano Ronaldo goal—it was their first league defeat in five games. Giorgos Donis’s side is rarely in a boring match; they've been lighting up scoreboards, netting four goals against Al Riyadh, Al Ittihad, and Al Hazem. Keep a close eye on Konstantinos Fortounis, the RSL's October Player of the Month, who is leading the league with an incredible nine assists.
A Champion's Resolve Tested
Finally, we have the defending champions, Al Ittihad, facing off against an Al Shabab team that's had a really rough go of it. Let's be honest, it hasn't been the smooth title defense Al Ittihad fans were hoping for in the league. After nine rounds, they're down in seventh place. Their recent 2-1 victory over Al Riyadh was actually their first league win in six outings, which is wild for a team of their caliber.
However, the cup seems to bring out a different beast in them. Tucked within that tough league run, they showed immense resolve by knocking Al Nassr out of the King's Cup in a titanic last-16 clash. That 2-1 triumph remains the only loss Al Nassr has suffered all season, in any competition. It's a massive statement. And just when they needed him, captain Karim Benzema seems to be finding his scoring touch again, getting on the scoresheet against Al Riyadh.
Their opponents, Al Shabab, are one of the RSL's most out-of-form teams. Manager Imanol Alguacil has had a challenging start to his tenure in the Kingdom, guiding his club to just one league victory so far. Their struggles continued with a draw against lowly Al Okhdood, leaving them in 13th place, just three points clear of the relegation zone. But there's a glimmer of hope: Abderrazak Hamdallah finally opened his account for the season. The Moroccan striker, who is the second-highest scorer in RSL history, knows this competition well—he was a beaten finalist back in the 2019-20 season, playing for Al Ittihad, funnily enough.
Conclusion
So there you have it. The Roshn Saudi League might be on a break, but the King's Cup is serving up a feast of football with four fascinating all-RSL clashes. We've got teams seeking revenge in instant rematches, history-making underdogs, and defending champions determined to prove their league form is just a temporary blip. Every match has its own unique storyline, promising a weekend full of drama, passion, and top-tier football. It's anyone's guess who will make it through to the semi-finals.
