1 Struggled to come up with goals but it was exciting to have a fresh breath of air in the form of Syrian playmaker Omar Khirbin (although he missed a penalty). LAST WEEK: 1 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 5 Latest result: Won at Al Ettifaq 1-0 Next SPL match: Home against Qadasiya (2/2) 2 Six in a row now and looking good. However, they’ll spend the next game against Ittihad just praying that the offence survives without Omar Al Somah who will be sitting out after accumulating Yellow’s. That kid just has the striker’s instinct. What else can we say? LAST WEEK: 2 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 6 Latest result: Won against Al Shabab 3-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Ittihad (3/2) 3 Ittihad didn’t play anything close to their best but still found a way to snag all three points — crucial, given the wins by their close competitors. LAST WEEK: 4 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 4 Latest result: Won against Al Wehda 1-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Ahli (3/2) 4 The signs were there. They always seemed to go downhill after the 6th minute miss from the penalty spot. But yet Al-Sahlawi redeemed himself a few minutes later — then they dropped the lead, Al Fraidi provides the assist with a beautifully weighted ball — then the keeper goes down, Sahlawi steps up in goal and makes a few saves. Yet they lost. Weird. LAST WEEK: 3 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7 Latest result: Lost at Al Qadasiyah 2-3 Next SPL match: Away at Al Khaleej (4/2) 5 Safe to say that the winter break was a blessing in disguise for Qadsawi’s. Beating Al Nassr against the round of play at Nassr is by means not an easy task, yet they made it look easy. LAST WEEK: 8 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 13 Latest result: Won against Al Nassr 3-2 Next SPL match: Away at Al Hilal (2/2) 6 This team needs a lot of work in the mental ethic department if it needs to be taken seriously and be part of the making of a BIG 5 instead of BIG 4 as is right now. LAST WEEK: 5 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 11 Latest result: Lost against Al Ahli 1-3 Next SPL match: Away at Al Taawon (1/2) 7 The defense continues to be a gigantic problem, but it’s worth remembering that Al Taawon tends to prefer coming back from goal(s) down. Ahmed Zain did try his best for them. Can they engineer a similar type of turnaround to get close to the big four? LAST WEEK: 6 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 12 Latest result: Lost at Al Raed 2-3 Next SPL match: Home against Al Shabab (1/2) 8 Only two points in their last four, and still more horrific struggles from the defense. Clock’s ticking. LAST WEEK: 7 HIGH: 9 | LOW: 13 Latest result: Lost at Al Batin 0-1 Next SPL match: Home against Al Nassr (4/2) 9 Are on a bad stretch as of this weekend. Just two off of 15. But things get better for them in the next few games. We are hoping at least. LAST WEEK: 9 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Lost against Al Hilal 0-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Batin (2/2) 10 That goal by Bangoura (see below) – that ball just seemed to hang in there for more time than the usual but regardless – a class goal indeed. However, defensively are still suspicious. A good win coming back from break. هدف الرائد الاول ضد التعاون (إسماعيل بانغورا) في الجولة 16 من دوري جميل#الرايد_التعاون #دوري_بلس pic.twitter.com/EVhhyMYmwO — dawriplus دوري بلس (@dawriplusksa) January 26, 2017 LAST WEEK: 11 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 13 Latest result: Won against Al Taawon 3-2 Next SPL match: Away at Al Fateh (1/2) 11 First of the battle of the minnows – Both Batin and Khaleej showed clear signs of why they stagger at the bottom. Finishing is absolutely sloppy. But Batin was able to draw first blood. That additional man definitely helped. LAST WEEK: 13 HIGH: 7 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Won against Al Khaleej 1-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Ettifaq (2/2) 12 Second game featuring the battle of the minnows – Took the lead and ran with it as far as they could. Unfortunately, that running did not get them anywhere. Still in the bottom of the official table. LAST WEEK: 14 HIGH: 9 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Won against Al Faisaly 1-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Raed (1/2) 13 About time they start worrying about their chances to remain in the top flight. They’re a point above Al Wahda who could possibly move away from relegation tomorrow. Faisaly seem no closer to finding a way to turn their season around. LAST WEEK: 10 HIGH: 3 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Lost at Al Fateh 0-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Wehda (4/2) 14 If you miss gifts as they are presented by the defence of a top team, then you know that this game will not end in your favour. LAST WEEK: 12 HIGH: 6 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Lost at Al Ittihad 0-1 Next SPL match: Home against Al Faisaly (4/2)  

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