Ivan Toney Misses Al-Ahli’s Riyadh Clash After Southwark Court Hearing
Al-Ahli have been forced to make a late change to their attacking plans after English striker Ivan Toney missed the Saudi Pro League meeting with Al-Shabab. The forward was unavailable for Friday’s “mini-clasico” at Riyadh’s SHG Arena after attending a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in England the previous day.
The timing left Toney with too little opportunity to travel and join his teammates before the 12th-round fixture, according to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah. His absence is a setback for Al-Ahli, who had hoped to call on one of their most prominent attacking options in a match carrying important implications for their league campaign.
Firas Al-Buraikan Leads the Line
Head coach Marino Pusic responded by selecting Saudi international Firas Al-Buraikan as the central striker. The forward was supported in attack by Portugal’s Francisco Trincao and Brazilian youngster Matheus Goncalves, with Saleh Abu Al-Shamat completing the front three in the announced starting line-up.
Al-Buraikan’s selection gives Al-Ahli a different profile up front from Toney. Rather than relying on the Englishman’s physical presence and ability to occupy defenders, the team can look to Al-Buraikan’s movement, pressing and familiarity with the club’s attacking patterns. Trincao’s creativity and Goncalves’ willingness to carry the ball could be especially important if Al-Ahli need to break down a compact Al-Shabab defence.
The change also puts greater responsibility on Al-Ahli’s midfield to supply the forwards quickly. Valentin Atangana, Artem Bondarenko and Ziyad Al-Johani were named in the middle of the pitch, a combination tasked with balancing defensive cover against the need to create chances. With Toney absent, coordinated movement between midfield and attack may prove central to Al-Ahli’s football approach.
Galeno Returns to the Bench; Mendy Left Out
Brazilian winger Wenderson Galeno was included among the substitutes after recovering from the injury that had kept him out of Al-Ahli’s previous four matches. His return gives Pusic another attacking option, although the coach did not include him in the starting XI. If the match becomes stretched or Al-Ahli need more direct running from wide areas, Galeno could offer a useful change of pace.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, meanwhile, was left out of the matchday squad despite travelling with the team to Riyadh. Pusic retained Saudi goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi between the posts, continuing with the domestic option for this fixture. The decision means Al-Sanbi carries responsibility at the back in a derby-style contest where concentration and communication will be vital.
Al-Ahli’s defence featured Mohammed Abdulrahman, Roger Ibanez, Rayan Hamed and Saad Balobaid. Their task will be to limit Al-Shabab’s opportunities while allowing the midfield to push forward. Against an opponent looking to exploit space on the counterattack, maintaining a compact shape could be just as important as creating chances at the other end.
League Positions Add Pressure to the Fixture
Al-Ahli entered the match in sixth place, with 21 points from seven wins and three defeats. Al-Shabab were 12th on 11 points, leaving the home side with a clear opportunity to improve their position and close the gap on the teams above them. However, league standings alone do not guarantee an easy evening: local rivalries often produce intense, unpredictable football, regardless of the difference in points.
For Al-Ahli, the key question was how effectively the team could adjust without Toney. His absence removes a familiar focal point, but it also gives Al-Buraikan a chance to make an impact in a high-profile fixture. The supporting attackers may need to interchange positions and create openings through combination play rather than simply supplying a target striker.
Al-Shabab, for their part, could view the absence as an opportunity to press Al-Ahli’s defenders and disrupt their build-up. If the hosts can prevent the visitors from settling into possession, they may force mistakes and create transition chances. That tactical contest—Al-Ahli’s attempt to control the ball against Al-Shabab’s efforts to unsettle them—was one of the main factors shaping the match prediction.
What Toney’s Absence Means for Al-Ahli’s Schedule
The court hearing also affected Toney’s immediate travel plans. Rather than joining the squad in Riyadh, he is expected to link up with Al-Ahli in Qatar ahead of Monday’s AFC Champions League Elite meeting with Al-Sadd. His availability for that continental fixture will depend on the club’s preparations and his ability to rejoin the team in time.
The short turnaround makes squad depth particularly important. Al-Ahli face a demanding schedule across domestic and Asian competition, and Pusic may need to manage minutes carefully as players return from injury or travel commitments. Galeno’s return to the bench is therefore timely, while Toney’s expected reunion with the squad could restore a major attacking option for the next match.
For supporters following the Saudi Pro League, the fixture offered more than a simple test of Al-Ahli’s position in the table. It provided an early look at how the team can adapt when a key striker is unavailable and whether alternative combinations can maintain their attacking threat. Any prediction for Al-Ahli’s performance had to account for that change, alongside the pressure of facing a motivated local rival.
Al-Ahli Starting Line-up
Goalkeeper: Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi
Defenders: Mohammed Abdulrahman, Roger Ibanez, Rayan Hamed, Saad Balobaid
Midfielders: Valentin Atangana, Artem Bondarenko, Ziyad Al-Johani
Forwards: Francisco Trincao, Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat
With Toney unavailable and Galeno returning only to the bench, Al-Ahli’s starting attack represented a notable change in personnel. The result would depend on how quickly the players adapted, whether Al-Buraikan could make the most of his opportunity, and how well the visitors balanced attacking ambition with defensive discipline in a high-stakes Saudi football encounter.
