1 Wiped out any concerns fans and critics might have had against them in terms of their title credentials. We rarely see big wins against top tier teams and that too without their star striker Omar Al Somah. They’re now a point away from Al Hilal, and with the way they’re playing, this is going to come down to a wire. LAST WEEK: 2 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 6 Latest result: Won at Al Ittihad 4-1 Next SPL match: Away at Qadasiya (9/2) 2 What a difference Omar Khirbin makes? Scored and set up multiple opportunities but missing a certain Nasser Shamrani or Nawaf Abid? Regardless, all eyes on Ahli and Ittihad to see who of the two will capitalize on Hilal dropping two points. LAST WEEK: 1 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 5 Latest result: Draw against Qadasiya 1-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Faisaly (9/2) 3 Suddenly, they’re just six points behind Al Hilal on points per game. Just watch this space as it gets a little entertaining as the season comes to a close. LAST WEEK: 4 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7 Latest result: Won at Al Khaleej 2-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Wehda (10/2) 4 Third home defeat coming in the hands of one of the big 5 (assuming Al Shabab is part of the group). And thus ends a pretty solid seven-game unbeaten run – the sort Ittihad usually save for the second half of the season. It’s plenty apparent that the attack is going to stay lethal no matter what, but the defensive lineup needs some restructuring. Too laxed with the ball in the back leading to errors. This is no Man City. LAST WEEK: 3 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 4 Latest result: Lost against Al Ahli 1-4 Next SPL match: Away at Al Taawon (11/2) 5 Surely, this will be counted as a Win for them. Scoring in the first 10 minutes in Riyadh is not an easy task. Will this turn their fortunes on a positive note? We will just wait and see. LAST WEEK: 5 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 13 Latest result: Draw at Al Hilal 1-1 Next SPL match: Home against Al Ahli (9/2) 6 Got a gift of a goal after scoring in the first half from a beautiful play. Perhaps that’s the sort of break Al Taawon needed to turn this season around. LAST WEEK: 7 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 12 Latest result: Won against Al Shabab 2-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Ittihad (11/2) 7 The blunder by keeper sweeper wannabe Mansour Jawhar sums up Al Shabab’s season. هدف التعاون الثاني ضد الشباب (موسى الشمري) في الجولة 17 من دوري جميل#دوري_بلس pic.twitter.com/IXooQccmo9 — dawriplus دوري بلس (@dawriplusksa) February 1, 2017 LAST WEEK: 6 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 11 Latest result: Lost at Al Taawon 2-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Khaleej (10/2) 8 It’s Clear this team loves to take shots from distance but tends to overdo it. Showed to resolve to close out the game which will need to happen a lot more as they hope to survive with the season nearing an end. LAST WEEK: 11 HIGH: 7 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Home against Al Ettifaq 2-0 Next SPL match: Away at Al Raed (12/2) 9 Came out on top in a game where your luck would decide your fate. Had opportunities to draw first blood in the first half – did not take it but with luck comes greatness, three goals and three points.  LAST WEEK: 12 HIGH: 9 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Won against Al Raed 3-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Ettifaq (11/2) 10 That 4 – 2 win at Fateh last year was fun, huh? LAST WEEK: 8 HIGH: 9 | LOW: 13 Latest result: Lost against Al Nassr 0-2 Next SPL match: Away at Al Shabab (10/2) 11 There is a bad and good to Ettifaq’s story. The bad – this was their fourth consecutive loss. The good – they are still sitting comfortably just behind the big four and Al Shabab in the official table. How about that? LAST WEEK: 9 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Lost at Al Batin 0-2 Next SPL match: Home against Al Fateh (11/2) 12 It wasn’t particularly impressive, but Al Faisaly now have eight out off fifteen but true test of survival starts from next week onwards. LAST WEEK: 13 HIGH: 3 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Won at Al Wehda 1-0 Next SPL match: Home against Al Hilal (9/2) 13 They were handed a lesson (a harsh one be it) on what happens when you do not capitalize on the opportunities early on. Even luck decides to rat you out. LAST WEEK: 10 HIGH: 5 | LOW: 13 Latest result: Lost at Al Fateh 1-3 Next SPL match: Home against Al Batin (12/2) 14 Clearly priortizing survival at this point is key after trotting out against Al Faisaly. That red card against Mousa Madkhali was harsh though. Agreed. LAST WEEK: 14 HIGH: 6 | LOW: 14 Latest result: Lost at Al Faisaly 0-1 Next SPL match: Away at Al Nassr (10/2)  

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