Al-Ahli stayed close to Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal after beating promoted side NEOM 3-0 at King Khalid Sport City Stadium. Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Enzo Milot scored as Matthias Jaissle’s team
extended a winning streak to seven matches.
The victory kept Al-Ahli within four points of the Saudi Pro League summit, while also stretching NEOM’s poor run. NEOM entered the match without a win in four league games and failed to take advantage of an early let-off in Arar.
Al-Ahli finally struck 10 minutes after half-time. Nathan Zeze was penalised for a foul on Ali Majrashi following a VAR check. From the penalty spot, Toney sent Luis Maximiano the wrong way to score in a seventh straight Saudi Pro League appearance.
NEOM had earlier believed the match might turn in their favour. Around the middle of the first half, Luciano Rodriguez bent a shot beyond the goalkeeper. However, the assistant’s flag went up and replays confirmed an offside decision against the forward.
The game then shifted further towards Al-Ahli after another VAR intervention. Khalifah Al Dawsari brought down Galeno as the last defender and received a red card. From the free-kick that followed on 64 minutes, Toney rolled the ball short to Mahrez.
Mahrez curled a precise effort into the far corner from that set piece to double the lead. Three minutes later, Mahrez was influential again. A threaded pass released Franck Kessie, who squared across goal, leaving Milot to finish into an unguarded net.
NEOM rarely threatened after falling two goals behind and playing with 10 players. Al-Ahli controlled possession, managed the tempo and avoided injuries. The result strengthened belief that Al-Ahli can chase Al-Hilal in the title race across the remaining Saudi Pro League fixtures.
| Team | Key streak | Period referenced |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahli | Seven straight Saudi Pro League wins | First time since December 2016 to February 2017 |
| Al-Ahli | Seven consecutive league wins vs promoted clubs | Last achieved between 2015 and 2016 |
| Al-Ahli | Second double over a promoted team without conceding | Only second occurrence in the last seven seasons |
These numbers underline a wider pattern in Al-Ahli’s current form. The club have matched a historic winning sequence from 2016-2017 and repeated earlier success against promoted sides. Defensive control has been key, with another full campaign double achieved without conceding a goal.
UNSTOPPABLE.#AlAhli #RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/CiLevd6RMQAl-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) January 24, 2026
Al-Ahli leave King Khalid Sport City Stadium with momentum, a clean sheet and another Toney goal. NEOM’s winless spell now stretches to five league matches, while Jaissle’s side strengthen a push towards Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
