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DAMMAM: The top five in the 2026\/27 Saudi Pro League at the first international break is now set \u2014 and one name is a surprise. NEOM, who followed up their victory against Al-Hilal last week with a 4-2 win against Al-Fateh on Sunday, completed the league\u2019s top five alongside Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah.<\/p>\n
In a season where Al-Ahli were widely expected to contend for the title \u2014 at least when Matthias Jaissle was still in charge \u2014 they were displaced from the top by a team in only its second season in the Saudi Pro League.<\/p>\n
To be fair, only seven matchdays have been played \u2014 but this NEOM side has come a long way from the team that finished eighth last season. Christophe Galtier has built on the foundations that Pericles Chamusca laid in guiding them to promotion from the Saudi First Division, assembling a team that blends experienced players with rising talent.<\/p>\n
The Tabuk-based side sit on 15 points, having won five and lost two \u2014 to Al-Qadsiah and Al-Riyadh.<\/p>\n
That blend could not have been more evident in their Matchday 7 fixture against Al-Fateh. Four of the players who contributed goals on the night were aged 24 or under \u2014 Amadou Kone, Islam Hawsawi, Mohannad Abu Taha and Muhannad Al-Saad \u2014 with the more experienced Alexandre Lacazette and Valentin Vada also on target to complete a comprehensive victory.<\/p>\n
Their standout moment of the night came from their youngest scorer \u2014 Kone. The 21-year-old Ivorian midfielder \u2014 one who the league\u2019s bigger clubs are keeping a close eye on \u2014 has nearly doubled his output from last season already, despite playing 25 fewer games.<\/p>\n
In the 51st minute, with the score level, he weaved past his marker to unleash a thunderous effort from outside the box and give NEOM a 2-1 lead. His goal was sandwiched between Lacazette\u2019s brace \u2014 the Frenchman converting a penalty in the 14th minute before restoring NEOM\u2019s lead for the final time in the 70th minute with a well-timed volley.<\/p>\n
Vada opened his account for the club in the 79th minute after Abu Taha delivered a line-breaking through ball \u2014 just three minutes after both came on \u2014 to complete the victory.<\/p>\n
For Al-Fateh, it was another disappointing night \u2014 as they joined the six teams that ended the first seven matchdays winless. Head coach Khaled Al-Atwi has struggled to find consistent goal contributions outside of Mourad Batna, and that weakness was on show here. Batna curled an exquisite free-kick in the 41st minute before setting up Wilfried Kanga\u2019s goal in the 64th minute \u2014 but his efforts ultimately proved in vain.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Al-Kholood\u2019s remarkable unbeaten run came to an end after their best-ever start in SPL history. Kader Keita and Rodrigo Abascal led Al-Riyadh\u2019s charge to a 2-0 victory as Milan Borjan made a series of vital saves to keep Al-Kholood at bay. Despite the defeat, Al-Kholood remain a respectable seventh.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Diriyah\u2019s chance to announce themselves as a new force in the league fell flat in a disappointing 0-0 draw with Abha, who are one of the league\u2019s six winless sides. Neither Diriyah\u2019s duo of Adil Boulbina and Darwin Nunez nor Abha\u2019s Michy Batshuayi and Nabil Fekir were able to break the deadlock.<\/p>\n
The SPL now takes a break until Oct. 9, with the AFC Champions League Elite returning mid-week before the Arabian Gulf Cup in Jeddah kicks off on Sept. 23.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n