Football Season Guide

On their return to the top flight after 3 years of absence Al Qadsiah impressed. They finished fourth in the final standings last term. Had the best defence in the entire top flight, only 31 goals conceded in 34 matches, and didn’t qualify for the Champions League Two only because of the lack of license. Between them starting strikers Julián Quiñones and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted 37 of Al Qadsiah’s 53 league goals last season. The latter left in the summer but the reaction was immediate. Paid a huge fee to bring in Mateo Retegui from Seria A and he will be the new partner of the 20-goal hero from last season Quiñones. The third-year manager Michel also signed two new exciting young wingers – Christopher Bonsu Baah and Gabriel Carvalho – to bolster further the front line. The former qualifies for 1 of the 2 spots for U21 foreigners, while 18-year-old Carvalho will take the designated spot for an U19 foreigner. Both should be used mainly off the bench, but both could become crucial late in games with their explosive runs and blistering speed. The back line led by 35-year-old captain Nacho Fernández should remain solid. Also, Belgian goalie Koen Casteels will seek back-to-back Golden Glove awards. Musab Al-Juwayr is one of the brightest Saudi midfielders right now and Al Qadsiah didn’t mind paying a hefty fee for his services. The 22-year-old should get plenty of starts and freedom to roam forward whenever he wants with Nandez and Fernandez protecting his back.