Saudi Supercup Lessons

The Saudi Super Cup lived up to expectations with two exciting semi-final matches in Abha. In the final, Al Hilal made a strong comeback in the second half to beat Al Nassr 4-1, winning the trophy.

However, Al Hilal won't have much time to celebrate as the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League (RSL) starts on Thursday. All 18 teams are eager to begin the new season.

Here’s a look at the four teams involved in the Super Cup and what it means for the upcoming RSL season.

Al Hilal Won't Be Easy to Beat

Al Hilal was losing 1-0 at half-time, but they fought back like true champions. They won the first trophy of the season by defeating their biggest rivals, Al Nassr. This victory shows that Al Hilal is determined to keep their RSL title.

With players like Aleksandar Mitrovic, Malcom, Salem Al Dawsari, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Al Hilal has a strong team. Their defense, including Kalidou Koulibaly and Yassine Bono, is also solid. It will be tough for other teams to take the RSL title from them.

Al Nassr Needs to Recover Quickly

Al Nassr was leading 1-0 at half-time, thanks to a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. However, mistakes in defense allowed Al Hilal to come back and win the game. Even though the loss hurts, Al Nassr played well in the first half. They need to forget about this defeat and focus on their first RSL match on Thursday against Al Raed.

Mitrovic Shows He Can Win the Golden Boot

Aleksandar Mitrovic had a great first season in Saudi Arabia, scoring 28 goals in 28 games. He was the second-highest scorer, just behind Ronaldo. Mitrovic is known for scoring important goals, and he showed his skills again in the Super Cup final by scoring twice. He will be aiming to win the top scorer award this season.

Firmino Could Lead Al Ahli's Title Challenge

Al Ahli didn’t make it past Al Hilal in the semi-final, but they showed promise for the new season. Roberto Firmino scored a goal that almost took them to the final. After a disappointing first season, Firmino has something to prove. With players like Riyad Mahrez and Feras Al Buraikan supporting him, Al Ahli looks ready to challenge for the title.

Arruabarrena Faces a Tough Challenge at Al Taawoun

Al Taawoun finished fourth last season, which was a great achievement. However, their coach, Pericles Chamusca, left the club. Rodolfo Arruabarrena, who has experience in Gulf football, is now in charge. His first game, a 2-0 loss to Al Nassr in the semi-final, showed how tough the RSL can be. It will be interesting to see if he can lead Al Taawoun to more success this season.