Donis returns to Al Hilal with Al Khaleej confusing expectations

To get a sense of the importance of Al Khaleej currently sitting sixth in the Roshn Saudi League, almost a third of the way into the 2024-25 campaign, one has to look back at their recent history in the league.

This represents only their sixth season in RSL in the Saudi Pro League era and at the end of only one of the 142 rounds in the five previous campaigns have they sat higher in the table than they do now. Back then, 10 rounds into the 2015-16 season, Al Khaleej actually sat one place better than they do now, in fifth.

So to be sixth at the moment, on the back of three consecutive RSL wins, puts the class of 2024-25 in good stead. The question on everyone’s lips is how long can they keep the good times rolling?

A disastrous run to end the 2023-2024 season saw Al Khaleej finish without a single win in their last eight matches. Only a run of six without defeat prior to the unwelcome streak saved Pedro Emanuel’s side from relegation. All in all, it was enough to force a management change in the offseason.

Out went relative RSL veteran Emanuel, who also has experience coaching Al Taawoun and Al Nassr, and in came another stalwart of the Saudi scene, former Greece international Georgios Donis.

Donis is no stranger to top flight football in the Kingdom having spent time in charge of Al Hilal, Al Wehda (across two stints) and Al Fateh, while taking the wider region into account he also worked in the UAE with Sharjah.

It was a summer deal that admittedly generated little fanfare outside of those who follow Al Khaleej, but one that is bearing significant fruit early in his tenure – albeit after some initial struggles.

A 1-0 opening day win at Damac to kick off the season got things off to the ideal start, but the follow-up of three defeats and a draw was certainly not in the script as the team took time to adapt to Donis’ new methods. During that time, the former Panathinaikos and Blackburn midfielder tinkered with his formation and personnel, trying to land on the magic formula that would bring success to the team from Saihat.

Across three games against Al Taawoun, Al Fayha and Al Ittihad, Donis used three different formations – 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and 5-3-2 respectively – tinkering with the starting XI each time, using 16 different players across these three matchweeks.

But since last month’s 1-0 triumph at home to Al Kholood in Matchweek 6, with Al Khaleej since then winning four of their last five, falling only to Al Ahli, the fumble has stopped. Donis has understandably settled on both system and personnel. The 4-2-3-1 has become Al Khaleej’s preferred style of play, with just 13 players used across these five RSL matches. In the last three – all of which have resulted in wins – Donis has named an unchanged starting XI.

That consistency in approach and composition of the team has paid off, and handsomely: Al Khaleej is one of only four clubs to have won the three RSL matches heading into the recent FIFA internationals. The other three? Al Ittihad, Al Shabab and Al Qadsiah, three of the current top five.

If you include goals scored, Al Khaleej are the league’s most in-form team in the last three matchweeks with a maximum of nine points and nine goals scored.

They also possess the league’s hottest Saudi striker in Abdullah Al Salem, the relatively unknown 31-year-old who has scored four goals in his last two appearances to be the leading local goalscorer in the league this season. Well supported by long-time RSL standout Fabio Martins, Al Salem has five in total.

While it may be a small sample size, it is still a significant achievement for Al Khaleej, which in budget typically lags behind neighbors in the Eastern Province, Al Ettifaq and Al Qadsiah. Excitingly, they face both in the next three weeks.

Before then, however, Al Khaleej face their toughest test of the season when Donis meet his former side, defending champions and league leaders Al Hilal, this weekend. Taking points from the country’s current top team is no easy task, something only Riyadh rivals Al Nassr have managed – twice – so far this calendar year.

Still without Salem Al Dawsari, Ruben Neves and Neymar, the absence of the star trio perhaps offers a glimmer of hope for Donis and his side as they welcome a team to Dammam looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to a remarkable 47 matches.

If Donis’ side are to take anything from the game, they will need to overcome history to do so. In the 12 previous meetings between the two, Al Khaleej have failed to win a single encounter, with Al Hilal taking maximum points on 11 occasions. The crossbar came all the way back in 2006, when the match ended goalless.

In addition, Al Khaleej have only managed to score twice against their fancier opponents. Each of these games, tough, ended in heavy 4-1 and 6-1 defeats.

Just looking at it doesn’t make for a pretty read. However, history is there to be rewritten, especially as this Al Khaleej side has written one of the stories of the season so far. With former Al Hilal man Donis at the helm, they are proving to be different to those who have come before them.