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Lets consider this as a tradition to start the previous year’s SPL title winner at No. 1 in the Power Rankings. But how about Omar Al Somah? Can any team stop him? Took off scoring from where he had left off. We mean just watch this:
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| LAST WEEK: 1 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Win at Al Ettifaq 4-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Fateh (20/08) |
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| 2 |
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Took them a while to click – well, exactly 75 minutes but click they did. You can bring in a new coach, employ new tactics, bring new foreigners, but nothing like when Al Hilal’s faithful such as Al Shamrani and Al Qahtani save the blushes of this legendary club. |
| LAST WEEK: 2 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Won against Al Batin 2-0 Next SPL match: Away at Al Taawon (19/08) |
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| 3 |
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Did we say that Bacary Sagna – sorry – Fahad Al-Muwallad is going places? Yes he is. Two goals and an assist – not a bad way to start off his tally for the season. But that defense? – a little too relaxed to give up those two late goals. |
| LAST WEEK: 3 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Won at Al Raed 3-2 Next SPL match: Away at Al Khaleej (20/08) |
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4 |
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The offensive runs of winger Ivan Tomecak was exactly the breadth of fresh air that Al Nassr needed, at least that is what we believe. Will they be able to put all their financial troubles past them this season and deliver? We will see. |
| LAST WEEK: 8 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Won against Al Fateh 4-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Ettifaq (20/08) |
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| 5 |
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Mansour Hamzi bags the first hat-trick of the season. This is going to be exciting. |
| LAST WEEK: 10 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Won against Al Khaleej 3-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Qadasiya (19/08) |
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| 6 |
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Yahya Al Musallam saves the day for the Knights of Mecca. A beautiful headline worth all the discussion. |
| LAST WEEK: 9 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Won against Al Taawon 3-2 Next SPL match: Away at Al Raed (18/08) |
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7 |
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Brought in quite a few new faces, with legendary Sami Al Jaber being the most high profile of them all. Reconfigured the team but the night was just not theirs. That 49th minute miss by Algerian Benyettou did not help either. And that crowd! Only 1,406 people for Sami’s opener? Ok, will stop now. |
| LAST WEEK: 6 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Draw against Al Qadasiya 0-0 Next SPL match: Away at Al Batin (20/08) |
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| 8 |
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Had their chances, a lot more than Al Shabab, just to be clear. Patrick Eze – the man to keep an eye out on. |
| LAST WEEK: 11 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Draw at Al Shabab 0-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Faisaly (19/08) |
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| 9 |
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An exciting game yet it’s fair for fans to question the performance of Faiz Alsubaiei in goal. Was horrendous. The top upsets of the round. |
| LAST WEEK: 4 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Lost at Al Nasr 1-3 Next SPL match: Home against Al Hilal (19/08) |
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| 10 |
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The question that is bothering us is why did they wait till the last 10 minutes to show the courage that they did? Manager Nacif Beyaoui will have his work cut off to fix that horrible defensive positioning. |
| LAST WEEK: 12 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Lost against Al Ittihad 2-3 Next SPL match: Home against Al Wehda (18/08) |
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| 11 |
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Not the start they had in mind after a strong finish last season. Their defense is particularly worrying, especially given the fact that they want to play fast, open, attacking football – none of which was on display, FYI. |
| LAST WEEK: 7 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Lost at Al Faisaly 1-3 Next SPL match: Home against Al Ittihad (20/08) |
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| 12 |
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Held off the mighty blues for 75 minutes but then broke down. Will have to get accustomed quickly to this nature of football if they would want to remain in top flight. |
| LAST WEEK: – HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Lost at Al Hilal 3-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Shabab (20/08) |
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| 13 |
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Just a lot of questions, even if they looked absolutely menacing last season. The formation remains a mystery – especially with several guys looking out of their depth. |
| LAST WEEK: 5 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Lost at Al Wehda 2-3 Next SPL match: Home against Al Ahli (20/08) |
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| 14 |
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The team held on through the heroics of Ahmed Ali Al Kassar but this surely is a lesson on life in the top division for the Ettifaqi’s. |
| LAST WEEK: 14 HIGH: – | LOW: – |
Latest result: Lost against Al Ahli 1-4 Next SPL match: Home against Al Nassr (20/08) |
PS: “LAST WEEK” is based on the standings at the end of 15/16 season.
