Al-Kholood Club vs Al-Ahli

Al Kholood host Al Ahli at Al Hazem Club Stadium in a Matchweek 4 clash that already carries weight. Al Ahli arrive as reigning AFC Champions League Elite holders, eager to show their summer rebuild is working under new boss Marino Pušić, while Al Kholood, still settling into the top flight, want to prove last season's King Cup final run was no fluke. Al Kholood opened the league with a goalless draw at Al-Ittihad before thrashing lower-division Jeddah 5-0 in the King Cup, Iker Kortajarena netting a first-half hat-trick. Al Ahli reshaped their squad this summer, adding Francisco Trincão and Eduard Spertsyan while letting Riyad Mahrez go, and beat Al Anwar in the cup behind Ivan Toney and Galeno. History favors the visitors, who have won five of the last six meetings since 2022, outscoring Al Kholood 11-3. Expect Al Ahli's quality to edge a tight contest. Our prediction: 1-2