Saudi Pro League Derby Week: Ronaldo and Al Nassr must quickly lift spirits ahead of clash against Al Hilal

Al Ittihad take on Al Ahli in the Sea Derby while Al Qadsiah renew local Eastern Derby hostilities with Al Ettifaq in the top flight for the first time since 2020/21

Cristiano Ronaldo was part of the Al Nassr side dumped out of the King's Cup in midweek. Chris Whiteoak / The National.

The Saudi Pro League hosts its inaugural Derby Week with matches involving city and crosstown neighbours taking place across the kingdom.

The Red Coast city of Jeddah kicks off proceedings on Thursday evening with a tantalising clash as Al Ittihad host rivals Al Ahli in the Sea Derby. Leaders Al Hilal take on Riyadh counterparts Al Nassr in the Capital Derby on Friday before the action moves to Dammam when Al Ettifaq take on Al Qadsiah in the Eastern Derby.

Al Ittihad head into Thursday's match buoyed by a run of form that has seen them win four of their last five games in the league to move into second place.

“For us it is a really important game, the team is in a really good moment," said Ittihad midfielder Fabinho.

"We are second in the league just behind Al Hilal and we want to be at the top, so we have to win this game. This will be my third derby, the first two were not very good for us. We lost both of them, so it is an opportunity to give a nice result to our fans. The fans they are asking for us to give everything to win this game.”

Ittihad's rise has been largely based on the goals of Karim Benzema, with the former Real Madrid and France striker looking back to his best with eight strikes already.

Coach Laurent Blanc rested the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner in the midweek King's Cup victory over Al Jandal but the 36-year-old frontman is expected to be restored for the visit of Ahli.

Riyad Mahrez was on target in Ahli's 1-1 draw against Al Okhdood in the league last Friday and coach Matthias Jaissle will look to the Algerian to spark a team languishing in eighth place with only three league wins from their first eight games.

Al Ittihad and Al Ahli share a rivalry dating back to 1938, when they played their first fixture. It’s a clash that has gripped the city ever since.

Al Nassr suffered a shock exit in the King's Cup on Wednesday when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Al Taawoun.

Cristiano Ronaldo was restored to the line-up after missing last week's thrilling 3-3 draw to Al Kholood but the Portuguese suffered a frustrating night at Al Awwal Park.

It's hardly the type of form new coach Stefano Pioli would have hoped for ahead of his biggest test since replacing Luis Castro, especially when Friday's visitors Al Hilal boast a perfect league record of eight wins to top the SPL table.

"It will be a great experience. We face a team that seems unbeatable, that seems invincible. So, we will put ourselves to the test," said Pioli of the task awaiting him in what will be his first taste of the Riyadh derby.

"For sure, it’s a very important game. It is clear that the standings could take one way or another based on the result. So, if we put together the importance of the match at an atmosphere level, and the importance of the match at the level of the standings, it is clear that it will be the most important match of this period. We will prepare ourselves the best way to be ready."

While Neymar continues his integration into the team following a year on the sidelines, Saudi forward Salem Al Dawsari has been in inspired form, and riding high at the top of the goals chart is Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serb scored his 10th league goal of the season in last week's 2-0 win over Al Taawoun with defender Joao Cancelo contributing his fifth assist since his summer move from Manchester City.

Jorge Jesus' side are unbeaten in 43 league games but head into the Capital Derby without the services of key midfielder Ruben Neves who continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained in the epic 5-4 AFC Champions League Elite win over Al Ain earlier this month.

Al Hilal have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, winning eight and drawing two of the last 10 matches across competitions. They swept all before them last season, going the entire domestic campaign unbeaten to win the league-and-cup double.

Nassr were their closest challengers but are already in danger of slipping too far behind. Ronaldo and his teammates are in third place in the standings, trailing their Riyadh rivals by six points.

The final match of the inaugural Derby Week pits Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq against local rivals Al Qadsiah in the Eastern Derby.

Qadsiah are back in the top flight after a three-year absence to renew hostilities with Ettifaq. The last time the teams met in the Saudi Pro League, in the 2020/21 season, Qadsiah emerged 3-1 victors at Al Ettifaq. Earlier in the campaign, fortunes were reversed with Al Ettifaq prevailing 2-1 on enemy territory.

Fast forward to present day, and the respective sides are managed by European club legends in former Liverpool midfielder Gerrard and ex-Real Madrid star Michel.

Al Qadsiah experienced a transformative summer, investing heavily in players to recruit the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Real Madrid captain Nacho.

They have more than adjusted to life back in the top flight, winning four of their eight games to sit in fifth place ahead of Saturday's encounter. Al Ettifaq are 10th in the 18-team league.