Al-Ahli’s nightmare run and the curse of injuries: a fresh defeat is causing concern for Al-Ahli before the new season

“The elegant one” is struggling

Al-Ahli’s poor sequence of friendly results has continued during their overseas training camp ahead of the new 2026-2027 campaign.

A defeat in Portugal

Al Ahly went down 3-1 to Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes in Friday’s friendly, which was played during their pre-season training camp in Portugal as they prepare for the new campaign.

Several of Al Ahly’s key players started the match. However, they were three goals down at half-time, which led to a series of substitutions after the break.

Brazilian Matheus Goncalves pulled one back early in the second half, but it was not enough to trigger a comeback.

Only one win

This was Al-Ahly’s second defeat in their overseas pre-season friendlies, after a 4-1 loss to Germany’s Holstein Kiel in Austria.

“Al-Raqi” have managed only one win so far, hammering Austria’s Saalfelden 8-0 in their first friendly there. They also drew 2-2 with Portugal’s Rio Ave in Portugal.

The Al-Ittihad nightmare

Al-Ahli supporters fear their team could suffer the same fate as their neighbours and traditional rivals Al-Ittihad, who struggled in their friendlies before the start of last season despite being the Saudi league champions at the time.

The consequences were severe. Al-Ittihad endured one of their worst seasons ever, finishing fifth in the Saudi league, exiting the King’s Cup and the Super Cup at the semi-final stage, and being eliminated from the AFC Champions League Elite in the quarter-finals.

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The injury curse

The result is not the only issue troubling Al-Ahli fans. The injuries picked up by the players in these friendlies are just as worrying, with the latest being Saleh Abu Al-Shamat.

Abu Al-Shamat left the match against Vitória Guimarães midway through the second half on a medical stretcher after a heavy collision with one of the Portuguese side’s players.

Left-back Zakaria Hawsawi had already gone off injured before that, during the 4-1 defeat to Holstein Kiel.

Al-Ahli fans want the team to begin the new season with a full squad, especially after losing so many experienced players at the end of last season, including Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez and Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié.

More friendlies ahead

Al-Ahli will need to keep their supporters satisfied by producing positive results in the two friendlies scheduled during their current training camp in Portugal.

The Red Devils face Portugal’s Portimonense and England’s Fulham before their overseas camp ends on 28 July.