Al-Qadsiah have received good news ahead of a series of important matches following the end of the current international break, most notably against Al-Nassr in the Roshn Saudi Pro League on 4 December, with several injured players nearing returns. Second in the table with 28 points from 12 fixtures, they need the boost to challenge leaders Al-Hilal and break their points tie with third-placed Al-Nassr.
League Standings
Al-Hilal top the Roshn Saudi Pro League table with 30 points from 11 matches. Al-Qadsiah are second with 28 points from 12 fixtures. Al-Nassr sit third on the same tally but having played 11 games.
Injury Updates
The newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reports that Al-Qadsiah are waiting on the return of several stars after the current international break.
Nacho Hernández missed recent rounds for Al-Qadsiah, and his absence hurt the side in a number of matches. Nacho Hernández's absence dented Al-Qadsiah's defensive standard in several important matches, including a home match against Al-Hilal in the battle for top spot that Al-Qadsiah lost 3-2. Irish coach Brendan Rodgers pointed to Nacho Hernández's absence as an experienced leader when Asharq Al-Awsat asked him about the impact of the defender's absence in the Al-Hilal match.
Nahitan Nández's comeback appears likely to be slightly delayed compared to Nacho Hernández's expected return. Jihad Zikri's injury left him out of the first Saudi national team squad currently holding a training camp in Qatar. On the injury front, defender Walid Al-Ahmad is likely to rejoin group training next December after nearly eight months of treatment for a cruciate ligament injury suffered against Al-Ahli in mid-March during last season's league campaign.
Upcoming Fixtures
Al-Qadsiah face difficult matches after the upcoming international break, with fixtures piling up as the Saudi Pro League coincides with the AFC Champions League Elite. Al-Qadsiah need the returning players for both their domestic and continental campaigns.
Al-Qadsiah are competing in the league, the AFC Champions League Elite, the Saudi Super Cup in Kuwait from 18 December and the King's Cup, making them the only Eastern Province side chasing all four competitions. Nacho Hernández looks set to return for Al-Qadsiah against Al-Feiha on 27 November, the match before the Al-Nassr fixture in the league. Both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr have several fixtures to navigate before their league encounter on 4 December.
Head-to-Head Record
A quick glance at the head-to-head since Al-Qadsiah returned to the Pro League tells its own story: they are the only side to have beaten Al-Nassr in all four league meetings over the past two seasons, whether in Riyadh or Dammam. Al-Qadsiah's record of beating Al-Nassr in all four league meetings over the past two seasons offers a morale boost the team wants to protect. The upcoming encounter between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr on 4 December could give Al-Qadsiah a chance to break the points tie with Al-Nassr or even climb back up the standings.
