Al-Ahli's Bold Attack Against Al-Riyadh: Bosic's Strategic Lineup

Mario Bosic has made his intentions clear. No half-measures, no cautious probing. For Al-Ahli’s fifth-round clash in the Saudi league against Al-Riyadh, he has loaded the front line and pushed his chips to the middle of the table.

Francisco Trincao, Wenderson Galeno and Ivan Toney start together, an aggressive trident designed to stretch, torment and finish. It is a bold selection that underlines the scale of the challenge – and the ambition – facing Al-Raqi today.

Behind them, the structure looks built to feed that firepower. Edouard Mendy anchors the side from goal, protected by a back four of Rayan Hamed, Mohammed Bakr, Roger Ibanez and Saad Bulaihid. It is a blend of physicality and composure, with Ibanez expected to marshal the line and set the tone in duels.

In midfield, Valentin Atangana and Artem Bondarenko offer the engine and balance, while Edward Spertsyan operates as the creative hinge between the lines. If Al-Ahli are to pin Al-Riyadh back, Spertsyan’s ability to find pockets of space and slide passes into Trincao, Galeno and Toney will be central to the plan.

The message is simple: control the ball, commit numbers, and let the front three decide it.

Al-Ahli XI: Edouard Mendy; Rayan Hamed, Mohammed Bakr, Roger Ibanez, Saad Bulaihid; Valentin Atangana, Artem Bondarenko; Edward Spertsyan; Francisco Trincao, Wenderson Galeno, Ivan Toney.

Across from them, Al-Riyadh arrive with a line-up that suggests resilience and structure, ready to absorb and strike when the moment comes. Milan Borjan starts in goal, a steady presence behind a defence of Sultan Al-Aisa, Abdulelah Al-Khaibari, Rodrigo Abascal and Sulaiman Hazazi.

The midfield axis of Fahad Jizani and Victor Lekhal is built to disrupt and recycle, with Teddy Okou and Issam Bahri providing the legs and invention in advanced areas. Hassan Al-Ali and Antonis complete the side, giving Al-Riyadh options between link-up play and direct threat.

Al-Riyadh XI: Milan Borjan; Sultan Al-Aisa, Abdulelah Al-Khaibari, Rodrigo Abascal, Sulaiman Hazazi; Fahad Jizani, Victor Lekhal; Teddy Okou, Issam Bahri, Hassan Al-Ali; Antonis.

One team leans into its attacking talent. The other braces to withstand it. For Bosic and Al-Ahli, this is more than just another league fixture; it is a test of whether this aggressive blueprint can carry them through the grind of a long season.