RIYADH: The first major showdown of the SPL season took place on matchday 2, with Al-Qadsiah falling to Al-Ittihad at home in Dammam. What did we learn from the second matchday?

Brendan Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah lack killer touch

It has been widely discussed in Saudi football circles — Al-Qadsiah are this season’s dark horses and, with Rodgers having a full summer of preparation behind him, this could be the year they break the traditional big four’s dominance.

However, a first home loss in 587 days to 10-man Al-Ittihad quickly put paid to talk of the knights of the Eastern Province being genuine title contenders. While they had four goals ruled out for offside, even the introduction of Tijjani Reijnders in the 57th minute did little to break down a resilient Al-Ittihad.

With the league’s top scorer in Julian Quinones and a talented team around him, the lack of a killer touch should be the least of Al-Qadsiah's worries — and yet, here we are.

Al-Ittihad’s spirit remains alive

After a 1-1 draw with Al-Kholood in their opening fixture, few expected Al-Ittihad to beat Al-Qadsiah — which is a surprising statement in itself. Yet despite winning the league two seasons ago, the Tigers have been on a downward trajectory, and new signings have yet to fully impress.

One of those is Dion Lopy, who was sent off for the second time in two games.

But the victory against Al-Qadsiah  — secured through George Ilenikhena’s powerful strike on the stroke of halftime — has largely been attributed to the indomitable spirit of Al-Ittihad, which never seems to die, no matter how far they fall. Credit must also go to head coach Jens Wissing, who effectively neutralized Al-Qadsiah’s star-studded attack to claim a significant win.

Ange hits full flow from the start

The fears that Al-Nassr would not reach the level they achieved under Jorge Jesus with Ange Postecoglou have been allayed, for now. The team have continued to earn plaudits for their expansive style of play, largely thanks to the duo of Joao Felix and Angelo — and the inverting full-backs who strengthen the midfield in a 2-3-5 formation.

A 4-0 victory over Al-Riyadh was expected, but Al-Nassr look exciting — and with Felix in full flow, they should be well placed to bring home another trophy this season.

And, of course, the return of Cristiano Ronaldo was largely positive. The icon came on for Abdullah Al-Hamdan in the second half and marked his comeback with a wonderful turn and finish to net his 977th career goal.

Wins for Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal, but doubts remain

Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal are in strange spots. Both have won their first two SPL fixtures and progressed in the King Cup, but fans remain uneasy.

For Al-Hilal, a return to the top of the SPL is an absolute must. But it is Simone Inzaghi’s style of play that is putting fans off — even a 3-0 win against Al-Fayha has not been enough to inject optimism into the camp.

Across in Jeddah, Al-Ahli’s unease stems from Marino Pusic’s style, which differs significantly from that of departed Matthias Jaissle. The Greens also won convincingly — demolishing Abha 4-0 — but the signing of Artem Bondarenko at a time when the team needed a Kessie-like player has turned fans against the club’s board.

Al-Kholood could be the surprise of the season

Prior to the season, many felt Al-Kholood’s fairytale run would come to an end. Under Ben Harburg’s leadership and head coach Des Buckingham, the focus has been on developing young Saudi players and unearthing unheralded talent from various leagues, a model that ultimately led them to survival in the top flight and a maiden King Cup final.

This season has started in stellar fashion. A 1-1 draw away at Al-Ittihad, progression to the King Cup round of 16 and a 3-2 victory over the established Qassim powerhouses Al-Taawoun on matchday 2.

For a team tipped for another relegation battle, it seems that — while still early in the season — perhaps they can dream a little bigger.