Al Nassr’s rearranged Al Wasl fixture creates a congested December schedule

Al Nassr’s rescheduled AFC Champions League Elite match against Al Wasl has left the Saudi club facing a demanding run of fixtures against domestic rivals Al Ahli and Al Hilal.

The game was originally due to take place on Monday, 26 October, at Al Nassr’s Al-Awwal Park stadium in Riyadh, in the third round of the league phase. However, the Asian Football Confederation postponed it just 24 hours before kick-off after Al Wasl were unable to travel to Saudi Arabia because of logistical problems.

The decision caused anger among Saudi football supporters and particularly within Al Nassr. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said all arrangements had been in place to receive the UAE club as normal.

Al Nassr subsequently complained to the Asian Football Confederation and requested that they be awarded all three points without the fixture being replayed, arguing that Al Wasl had failed to reach Saudi Arabia.

That appeal did not prevent a new date being set. The match will now be played on 27 December, a scheduling decision that appears to place Al Nassr under significant pressure.

The revised fixture falls only four days after the Saudi Super Cup final, which will be held in Kuwait between 19 and 23 December and features Al Nassr, Al Kholood, Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah.

If Al Nassr beat Al Kholood in the semi-final, they will face either Al Ahli or Al Qadsiah in the final before meeting Al Wasl in the continental competition four days later.

The demanding period continues into the new year. Al Nassr’s match against Al Wasl is scheduled around five days before the Riyadh derby against traditional rivals Al Hilal, which will be played at Al-Awwal Park on 1 January in the 17th round of the Roshn Saudi League.

Al Hilal, by contrast, will have a full rest period before the derby. Their final match before facing Al Nassr is against fellow Riyadh club Al Riyadh on 21 December at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. That fixture was postponed from the ninth round of the Roshn Saudi League.

The contrasting schedules could leave Al Nassr more vulnerable to fatigue in the derby, raising further questions over the timing of the rearranged Al Wasl match.

Al Hilal currently lead the Roshn Saudi League with 27 points. Al Nassr are third, two points behind, and trail second-placed Al Qadsiah on goal difference, with Al Qadsiah having played one additional match.