Al Ahli go into their Saudi Pro League meeting with Al Khaleej placed fifth in the table, according to the standings published by the BBC on Friday 23 October 2026. The Jeddah club have taken 21 points from ten matches, winning seven and losing three, and have scored 27 goals while conceding 13.
Al Khaleej, managed by José Gomes, sit tenth with 12 points from eleven games. They have won two, drawn six and lost three, with a goal record of ten scored and 17 conceded.
Why it matters
The gap between the sides is nine points, but the form lines point in different directions. Al Ahli have won five of their last six league matches, with a single defeat in that sequence. Al Khaleej are unbeaten across their last five, a run that includes two wins and three draws, and their most recent result was a loss.
For Al Ahli, the target is the top four. Fourth-placed Al Ittihad have 23 points from ten games, two more than Al Ahli, and the top three of Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Qadsiah are further clear. Al Hilal lead on 27 points after ten matches, Al Nassr are second on 25 and Al Qadsiah third on 25 from eleven.
For Al Khaleej, the priority is separation from the lower half. They are level on 12 points with ninth-placed Al Kholood, who have played nine games, and three points clear of Al Shabab in eleventh. The bottom three — Al Fateh on six points, Al Taawoun on four and Abha on two — are already adrift.
How the table looks around them
The BBC's table, last updated at 21:40 on 23 October, places Al Ahli fifth with a goal difference of 14, the third-best figure in the division behind Al Hilal's 21 and Al Nassr's 15. Al Khaleej's goal difference of minus seven is the weakest in the top half apart from Al Ettifaq's minus two and Diriyah Club's minus two, both of whom sit above them.
Al Ittihad occupy the last of the AFC Champions League Elite qualifying places in fourth, with Al Ahli immediately outside. Sixth place, currently held by NEOM on 16 points, leads to AFC Champions League 2. The bottom three positions are relegation places.
Al Ahli's record of 27 goals in ten matches is the second-highest in the league after Al Hilal's 30, though Al Hilal have played the same number of games. Al Nassr have scored 23 and Al Qadsiah 26 from eleven.
The line-ups reported by the BBC
The BBC's team sheets list Al Ahli with Abdulrahman Al Sanbi in goal and a back line of Saad Yaslam, Roger Ibañez — who captained the side — Mohammed Sulaiman and Saeed Baattia. Spertsyan, Bondarenko and Atangana started in midfield, with Feras Al Brikan, Ivan Toney and Trincão up front.
Al Ahli made their changes on 66 and 81 minutes. Mohammed Abdulrahman, Ziyad Al Johani and Matheus Gonçalves came on for Baattia, Spertsyan and Al Brikan respectively, while Abdullah Radif and Ramez Al Attar replaced Bondarenko and Trincão. Among the substitutes listed were Diaby, Meshal Al Mutairi and Rayan Hamed.
Al Khaleej started Marwan Al Haidari in goal behind Mohammed Al Khabrani, who wore the armband, Abdullah Al Hafith, Ahmed Asiri and Fawaz Al Soqoor. Pedro Rebocho, Majed Kanabah and Mascarell played in midfield, with Barrow supporting Benegas and King in attack.
Two Al Khaleej players were booked: Asiri in the ninth minute and Al Khabrani in the 23rd. Gomes used his bench early, bringing on Saleh Al Amri for Asiri at half-time and Miguel Crespo for Al Khabrani on 67 minutes. Bader Munshi and Hussain Al Eissa followed on 79 minutes, replacing Kanabah and Barrow.
What to watch
Al Ahli's next task is to close the two-point gap to Al Ittihad and stay in touch with the Champions League places, while Al Khaleej will look to convert their run of draws into wins and keep distance from the bottom half. The BBC's table will be updated as the round progresses.
