Al Qadsiah face depleted squad for Al Riyadh clash after Al Hilal setback

Al Qadsiah will be without midfielder Nahitan Nandez for their next Roshn Saudi League match after he suffered an injury during the side’s 3-2 defeat by Al Hilal.

The match, played at Kingdom Arena last Friday in the competition’s 11th round, saw Al Hilal claim a narrow victory in an entertaining contest. Nandez’s injury adds to Al Qadsiah’s problems ahead of their next fixture.

According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, the Uruguay international will miss Thursday’s game against Al Riyadh. Al Qadsiah will travel to SHG Arena in the Saudi capital for the 12th-round meeting.

Nandez becomes the fifth player unavailable to Al Qadsiah for the match. Spanish defender Nacho Fernandez is also out because he is not yet ready to return, while defender Ali Diabate and winger Haitham Asiri are absent as well.

Ahmed Al-Siyahi will also miss the fixture after sustaining an injury in Al Qadsiah’s meeting with Qatari club Al Sadd on Monday. That match was played in the third round of the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite.

The defeat by Al Hilal had already cost Al Qadsiah top spot in the Roshn Saudi League. The eastern club dropped to third place on 25 points, level on goal difference with second-placed Al Nassr and two points behind leaders Al Hilal, who moved to the summit.

Al Qadsiah will therefore attempt to respond against Al Riyadh while dealing with a number of absences, including the latest setback involving Nandez.