Al-Ettifaq — Al-Kholood : Match Preview and Prediction for August 28,2025

Al-Ettifaq’s Ambitious Season Goals

Let’s get straight to the point. Al-Ettifaq coach Saad Al-Shehri has explicitly outlined the club’s objectives for the upcoming season. His vision transcends merely building a mid-table side; he aims to forge a team capable of clinching trophies. This appears to be more than just rhetoric, signifying a clear statement of intent, substantiated by significant activity in the transfer market.

Potent Attacking Force Assembled

Observe their formidable attacking potential. The existing French forward Moussa Dembélé has been augmented by the arrival of experienced Egyptian striker Ahmed Kouka, who boasts an extensive career in Europe. Khalid Al-Ghannam’s return from loan completes what now looks like a powerful attacking trio for Al-Shehri, offering diverse options upfront. Orchestrating this offensive unit will be the Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum, who netted 14 goals and provided 5 assists last season.

Fortress Dammam: The Home Advantage

Their home stadium merits special mention. The team thrives when playing on home turf, a fact unequivocally supported by statistics: Al-Ettifaq has emerged victorious in 4 out of their last 5 home encounters. The squad has mastered the art of leveraging their home crowd’s support, transforming any visit to Dammam into a formidable challenge for opposing teams.

Al-Kholood’s Era of Transformation

What about Al-Kholood? They are undergoing a complete overhaul. The club has a new owner, the American Harburg Group, marking a first of its kind in the league. This signals a fundamental shift in direction, introducing new processes and, consequently, an inevitable period of adaptation. Such transitions are rarely seamless, especially at the outset of a new season.

New Management, New Philosophy

The team is now under the stewardship of a new coach, Englishman Des Buckingham. This match will serve as his official debut at the helm. He faces the daunting task of instantly structuring the team’s play, assessing players’ capabilities in competitive scenarios, and embedding his tactical philosophy. Club captain William Troost-Ekong himself has emphasized the necessity to “lay the foundation for a new club culture,” underscoring that the team is very much at the initial stages of its journey.

Struggles on the Road: A Historical Challenge

Furthermore, their away statistics are alarmingly poor. Al-Kholood has suffered defeat in 8 out of their last 9 away matches. This isn’t mere coincidence but a systemic issue, one that the new coach is unlikely to have resolved within the brief pre-season window. The team consistently struggles when playing away from their home ground, and facing a strong Al-Ettifaq side, renowned for their home form, presents the worst possible scenario for kicking off their season.