Al-Qadsiah
- Brendan Rodgers brings a structured, possession-based, progressive style of soccer to Al-Qadsiah with his energetic and ambitious approach already having made an immediate impact on the club’s results.
- His side have won three of their last five, including a win over NEOM in which Julián Quiñones scored a hat-trick, and currently sit around fifth on the league table with 17 points from nine matches.
- Rodgers’ men have scored an average of two goals per match this term and already look better equipped to challenge in the top-six than most expected ahead of the 2025-2026 campaign.
- Julián Quiñones is the most in-form player for the Khobar-based side at the moment, coming into this matchup on the back of a hat-trick against NEOM, while the club’s goalscoring form is good with Mateo Retegui providing a physical and technical focal point up front when fit.
- Koen Casteels and Nacho Fernández bring experience and defensive stability, where they will need to be at their best against Al Shabab.
Al Shabab
- Imanol Alguacil has made some tactical changes at Al-Shabab that look to make them a much more structured side in possession, with Josh Brownhill and Yacine Adli anchoring a compact midfield shape that will be tasked with controlling the ball and dictating the game.
- Yannick Carrasco is the main playmaker and top scorer for Al-Shabab this season and he will often be required to create his teammates’ chances or to do it himself, while Abderrazak Hamdallah and Cristian Guanca both have the proven ability to score goals if available.
Head-to-Head
Al-Qadsiah have won 3 of the last 5 Pro League head-to-head meetings with Al Shabab , including a 3-2 away win in February 2025 .
Key Players
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Al-Qadsiah:
- Julián Quiñones is the most in-form player for the Khobar-based side at the moment, coming into this matchup on the back of a hat-trick against NEOM, while the club’s goalscoring form is good with Mateo Retegui providing a physical and technical focal point up front when fit.
- Koen Casteels and Nacho Fernández bring experience and defensive stability, where they will need to be at their best against Al Shabab.
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Al-Shabab:
- Yannick Carrasco is the main playmaker and top scorer for Al-Shabab this season and he will often be required to create his teammates’ chances or to do it himself, while Abderrazak Hamdallah and Cristian Guanca both have the proven ability to score goals if available.
- Imanol Alguacil has made some tactical changes at Al-Shabab that look to make them a much more structured side in possession, with Josh Brownhill and Yacine Adli anchoring a compact midfield shape that will be tasked with controlling the ball and dictating the game.
Betting Insights
- Al-Qadsiah are the odds-on favorites here at 1.91 with the bookies but Al-Shabab are almost three times their odds at 3.61, while a draw is around 3.35.
- There is a possibility that Al-Qadsiah can make a statement here and secure a top-six place by picking up three points in this contest, which would be a huge boost to Rodgers’ project.
- Both teams to score is 1.9, which is also the value play.
Prediction
- We’re going for a draw or Al-Qadsiah win because this will be a highly competitive contest.
- Al-Shabab will look to control the tempo and dictate the game, while Al-Qadsiah will press in numbers and try to exploit their opponents in transition.
