Joy Elite League: Al-Ittihad wary of Al-Khaleej surprises, with Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli seeking a return to winning ways in the sixth round
A thrilling round awaited
The Joy Elite League, Saudi Arabia's Under-21 competition, is back in action after more than three weeks away during the recent international break.
Packed with young talent, the division resumes with its sixth round of fixtures. Several heavyweight ties headline the schedule as the battle for position heats up.
Matches of the sixth round of the Joy Elite League
The sixth round of the Roshn Saudi Pro League gets under way on Monday 12 October. Al-Khaleej host Al-Taawoun in Sayhat, and Al-Ettifaq take on Al-Faisaly in Dammam.
In the Saudi capital, Al-Hilal welcome Al-Watan. Neom travel to face Al-Riyadh, and Al-Ahli round off the opening day against Al-Wehda in Jeddah.
Al-Nassr and Al-Tadhamon kick off the second day with a heavyweight clash in Riyadh. Al-Okhdood host Al-Jabalain in Abha, Al-Hazem face Damac in Al-Ras, and Al-Orobah take on Al-Fayha in Al-Jouf.
Over in Medina, Al-Qadsiah travel to face Al-Ansar. Al-Najma meet Al-Fateh at the Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah, and Al-Ittihad close out the round at home to Al-Kholood in Jeddah.
Al-Hilal aiming to rise up against Al-Watan
Al-Hilal, meanwhile, return to AFC Champions League Elite action with a kind draw, hosting Al-Wehda at their stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
One objective fills their minds: win. A victory would restore some balance after they dropped 5 of the last 9 points on offer across the past three rounds.
Al-Hilal lost 2-1 to Al-Taawoun, then thumped Neom four goals to nil, before their last match against Al-Jabalain finished 3-3.
Those patchy results have left "the Leader" fourth in the standings on 10 points, 3 behind league leaders Al-Ittihad.
Recovering that winning rhythm looks well within reach, particularly as opponents Al-Wehda sit nineteenth with just 3 points, picked up from a single win and a heavy four-nil hammering by Al-Ahli.
Al-Ahly: an easy task against Al-Wehda
Al-Ahli chase the same goal when they host Al-Wehda in Jeddah, having stumbled in two of their last three Roshn Saudi Pro League outings.
A 2-2 draw with Al-Jabalain was followed by a 4-0 thrashing of Al-Watan, before another 2-2 stalemate with Al-Qadsiah.
That recent wobble cost Al-Ahli top spot, with Al-Ittihad leapfrogging them. They sit third now on 11 points, two adrift of "the Dean".
Getting back to winning ways should prove straightforward. Al-Wehda arrive sixteenth in the table on 4 points from one win and one draw, having already lost three.
Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad remain the only two sides yet to taste defeat in this season's Roshn Saudi Pro League.
Al-Nassr face the bottom club
Al-Nassr also face a gentle test in the sixth round, hosting Al-Tadamon in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
They go into the match on the back of a revival. Al-Nassr edged Damac by a single unanswered goal last time out, ending a run of two straight defeats, 2-1 to Al-Fateh and 3-2 to Al-Feiha.
That win did little for their league position. Al-Nassr sit fourteenth with 6 points, but the three points offer a platform to build a run of victories.
The opponent only sharpens that motivation. Al-Tadamon prop up the table in twenty-fourth and last, pointless after four matches, all of them lost.
No side has defended worse this season. Al-Tadamon have shipped 16 goals in the Roshn Saudi Pro League, a full five clear of their nearest rivals.
Al-Ittihad fears Al-Khuloud surprises
A heavyweight clash closes out the sixth round, pitting league leaders Al-Ittihad against the season's biggest surprise package, Al-Khaleej.
Al-Ittihad arrive on the back of an outright lead at the summit, sealed last time out with a fourth straight win. Only an opening-round draw has blemished their record.
On 13 points, they stand alongside Al-Ahli as the only two sides yet to taste defeat this season in the Roshn Saudi Pro League.
"The Dean" have reason to be wary, though. Al-Khaleej have reeled off three wins in a row since losing their opener to Al-Hilal.
The pick of last round's results belonged to Al-Khaleej, who stunned Al-Ettifaq 3-1 and knocked them out of the title race.
That winning streak has lifted Al-Khaleej to 9 points and seventh in the Roshn Saudi Pro League. Victory here would send them soaring into the top four.
