RIYADH: The Saudi Super Cup has expanded from two to four teams at the right time.
On Thursday, league champions Al-Hilal will take on Al-Fiha, but it is the other semi-final, the clash between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, that has captured the public’s attention. And for good reason.
Whatever the result, it will mean Portuguese hands will be closer to the trophy, be it Cristiano Ronaldo’s or Al-Ittihad’s coach Nuno Santo.
Ronaldo’s performance in last Sunday’s 1-0 win over Atifak, his competitive debut since signing for Al-Nassr in late December, was watched around the world.
It must be a great test; A high-profile contest between league leaders and third-placed Al-Ittihad, although they both have the best defensive record in Saudi Arabia, don’t expect too many goals. But then it’s the cup, and anything can happen.
No one would pretend that this is the biggest prize in Saudi Arabian football. It used to be that the final was played between the winners of the league and the King’s Cup from the previous season, but now the runners-up are allowed in each competition and Al-Hilal are both champions and cup runners-up, which gives Al-Nasr’s an extra spot for
Nevertheless, it would be very welcome to have trophy cabinets in both Riyadh and Jeddah.
It will take some of the pressure off both clubs. For al-Nasr, the reason is clear. Signing one of the best players in the history of the game means you are in the limelight and expectations are sky high.
The image of a smiling Ronaldo, who has won the most titles it is possible to win in Europe, lifting the trophy just a week after his debut, will be broadcast around the world. It will set the tone nicely for the rest of the season.
It’s not just about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Coach Rudi Garcia, who has led major European teams such as Marseille, Roma and Lyon, already had a star-studded squad.
Players such as Anderson Talisca, PT Martínez and Luiz Gustavo all have experience at the top of the world game and there are several Saudi internationals, six of whom went to the World Cup. This is a squad that should win things and hopes to do so.
There is also David Ospina. Or rather was. The Colombian goalkeeper, who arrived from Napoli last summer and impressed, fractured his elbow in a 0-0 draw with Al-Shabab on 14 January and will be out for the rest of the season.
Rather than allowing Nawaf Al-Aqidi to step in after the 22-year-old performed well in the recent Gulf Cup – Al-Nasser has moved quickly to bring in a South American replacement. Agustín Rossi arrives on loan from Boca Juniors until the end of the current campaign and could make his debut as early as Thursday and, if all goes well for his team, he will reach the final on Sunday.
Al-Ittihad has something to say about this. Coach Nuno has delivered what many would have expected having seen his work in his hometown of Portugal, as well as in the English Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur. The Tigers have been tough to score against and difficult to beat.
The Egyptian duo of Tarek Hamad and Ahmed Hegazi provide stability and solidity at the back. Five goals in the last two matches shows they are becoming even more fluent with free-scoring Abderrazak Hamdalla up front, supported by Brazilian stars Romarinho and Igor Coronado.
For Nuno too, the trophy will give him something to show for as he betters his team for the title race. He took the job last summer before discovering that Al-Ittihad had not won the championship since 2009, coming closer than last season before opening up a double-digit lead at the top in heartbreaking fashion.
He may not have felt the desperation in the port city until he reached the Red Sea.
Of course, the famous Portuguese may not fully appreciate the handicap of new arrivals Al-Hilal. The 18-time champions are a trophy-collection machine and they also have unfinished business against their opponents Al-Fiha on Thursday.
When the two met in the King’s Cup final last May, Salem Al-Dawsari had given Al-Hilal a first-half lead only for Ramon Lopes to equalize in front of nearly 50,000 in Jeddah. Al Fayah won 3–1 in the penalty shootout. It was one of the biggest shocks in Saudi football in recent years.
The defeat was made less painful as Al-Hilal won the league, but the Riyadh giants would love to get some cold-blooded revenge and get a mouth-watering final against their huge rivals from Riyadh or Jeddah. Lifting the Saudi Super Cup would also be the perfect preparation for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Feha may be at number 13 but is in excellent form. After picking up just two points from the first eight games of the season, they had won four of their last five before losing to Al-Ittihad last week.
The King’s Cup victory in the previous season brought them their first ever piece of major silverware. Another would be cause for huge celebration.
Thursday is shaping up to be one of the most exciting football days of the season.