Al-Ettifaq 0-0 Al-Ahli: Wasteful visitors miss chance to go top

Al-Ahli wasted an abundance of chances and missed the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents, Al-Ettifaq, to the top of the Saudi Pro League after a 0-0 draw on Friday.

Both sides had great moments to snatch a win in a tight game, but neither could find the finishing touch as the spoils were shared at EGO Stadium. 

Al-Ahli started strong in the first half, and kept their hosts under early pressure, with Marek Rodak making saves to deny Galeno, Ivan Toney and Franck Kessie.

They came closest to taking the lead in the 35th minute through Merih Demiral as he rose highest to meet Alvaro Medran's corner, but his effort struck the top of the goal frame.

Just moments later, Georginio Wijnaldum had a glorious opportunity to score after being played in behind, but he skewed his shot well wide of the far post.

Galeno then got the better of Rodak in first-half stoppage time, but his low, curled effort was cleared in front of the line by Ondrej Duda.

Al-Ahli's wastefulness carried into the second half, with Demiral getting on the end of another set-piece, but after heading wide, his blushes were spared by the offside flag.

Kessie volleyed a late strike well wide, while Ibanez's thumping header was tipped over the bar in the 95th minute, though both teams maintained their unbeaten start.

Data Debrief: Lack of quality sees chances go begging

Al-Ahli will be leaving the EGO Stadium wondering how they did not walk away with three points, given the amount of attacking moments they had.

They had 13 shots in total, with five of those on target, as well as hitting the woodwork, while generating 1.14 expected goals (xG).

Al-Ahli also had more possession (57.3%), and made 216 passes in the opposition half, with 118 of those in the final third, but they could not find a way past Rodak.

And despite their chances, Wijnaldum had the most clear-cut of those, but could only fire wide. Al-Ettifaq did not hit the target once with any of their four attempts (0.5 xG).