Jawwy Elite League: Riyadh derby and decisive battles at both ends of table

The 10th round of the Jawwy Elite League, the Saudi Under-21 competition, features a Riyadh derby, a meeting between leaders Al-Ittihad and bottom club Al-Ansar, and a major contest between Al-Ahli and Al-Ettifaq.

The league phase consists of 20 rounds before the play-off for the quarter-finals, meaning the latest round marks the halfway point of the opening stage.

Saturday’s fixtures, on 7 November, begin with Al-Okhdood against Al-Tadhamon at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha. Al-Khaleej then visit defending champions Al-Hazem before Al-Nassr host Al-Riyadh in the capital derby.

The following day, Sunday 8 November, sees Al-Hilal return to action against Damac at Princess Nourah University Stadium in Riyadh. Al-Fateh travel to Al-Kholood in Al-Rass, while Al-Orouba face Al-Qadsiah at Al-Jouf University Stadium. Neom host Al-Watani at Al-Watani Club Stadium in Tabuk.

Leaders Al-Ittihad visit bottom side Al-Ansar at Abasco Field in Medina, while Al-Ahli welcome Al-Ettifaq in the round’s headline fixture. The round concludes on Monday, 9 November, with Al-Najma against Al-Wehda at the Education Administration Stadium in Unaizah. Al-Taawoun’s match against Al-Jabalain and Al-Faisaly’s game with Al-Fayha have been postponed until 18 December.

Al-Nassr and Al-Riyadh meet in capital derby

Al-Nassr go into the derby with victories over Al-Qadsiah and Al-Khaleej in their previous two matches, beating the former 2-1 before a 2-0 win against the latter.

Those results lifted Al-Nassr into ninth place with 13 points from four wins, one draw and two defeats. They remain behind Al-Riyadh, who have lost only once in eight matches – against Al-Wehda in the opening round.

Al-Riyadh have also drawn twice and won five games, including a victory over Al-Hazem last time out. They sit fifth on 17 points, six behind leaders Al-Ittihad, who have played one more match.

Al-Hilal, currently eighth on 14 points, return after their fixture against Al-Tadhamon was postponed. They have four wins, two draws and one defeat, with a game in hand, but have drawn two of their past three league matches, including against Al-Fateh.

Damac, meanwhile, are 19th with six points after one win, three draws and four defeats. Their only victory came against defending champions Al-Hazem. They are two points above Al-Tadhamon, who occupy 21st place, a relegation position.

Leaders face bottom club

Al-Ittihad remain unbeaten but saw a seven-match winning run, stretching from rounds two to eight, ended when Al-Ahli scored a stoppage-time equaliser in the Jeddah derby.

The Tigers lead with 23 points, 21 clear of Al-Ansar, who have two points. Al-Ansar are the only team without a win, having lost five and drawn two of their seven matches. They have scored only three goals, level with Al-Watani and Al-Okhdood, and now face the league’s strongest defence: Al-Ittihad have conceded four.

Al-Ahli are second with 19 points and also remain unbeaten. Al-Ettifaq, sixth on 15 points, have scored a league-best 30 goals compared with Al-Ahli’s 22, although they have lost twice in their last three games. Their latest result was a 2-1 win over Al-Ansar.

Mousa Adam leads the scoring charts with nine goals after his late strike against Al-Ittihad. Al-Ettifaq’s Mohammed Al-Eissa and Al-Fateh forward Jefferson Ramos, from Cape Verde, have eight each.