Al-Ahli Faces Sundowns Test with New Line-Up
Al-Ahli step into their Intercontinental Cup clash with South Africa’s Sundowns knowing this is the kind of night that can define a campaign. Survive it, maybe even win it, and the Saudi side’s continental run gathers real weight. Fall short, and the questions return.
Marino Pusic has responded by tightening his grip on the core of his team while daring to tweak around the edges. The idea is clear: keep the stars on the pitch, but adjust the structure just enough to handle Sundowns’ speed and ruthless counter-attacks.
Bahoya thrown straight into the fire
The boldest call comes on the right. New signing Saeed Bahoya is set to make his first start at right-back in one of the most demanding assignments Al-Ahli will face in this tournament. No gentle introduction, no easing in from the bench. Straight into a tie where one mistake can open the floodgates.
Ahead of him, the midfield axis carries a different look. Ibrahim Diaby is expected to partner Valentine Atangana in the double pivot, a pairing Pusic trusts to knit together defence and attack while absorbing the shock of Sundowns’ transitions. It is a duo built less for show and more for sheer work rate and positional discipline.
Pusic is effectively asking Bahoya and Diaby to be the hinges of the system. Track runners. Close gaps. Win duels. Then, when the chance appears, help launch the counter-punch.
A 4-2-3-1 built on control and risk
On paper, Al-Ahli line up in a 4-2-3-1:
- Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
- Defence: Zakaria Hawsawi, Roger Ibanez, Merih Demiral, Saeed Bahoya
- Midfield: Valentine Atangana, Ibrahim Diaby
- Attack: Francisco Trincao, Galeno, Eduard Spertsyan
- Centre-forward: Ivan Toney
In reality, the shape will live or die on the distances between those lines. Atangana and Diaby sit just in front of Ibanez and Demiral, tasked with shielding the centre and forcing Sundowns wide. The full-backs, Hawsawi and Bahoya, must choose their moments to advance, knowing that every forward run leaves space for Sundowns’ sprinters to attack.
Ahead of them, the attacking trio of Francisco Trincao, Galeno and Eduard Spertsyan have license to roam behind Ivan Toney. They are the ones who must find the pockets of space, drag markers around, and feed the English striker, whose presence as the focal point gives Al-Ahli a clear target in the box and an outlet when the pressure rises.
Toney’s role is simple in theory, brutal in practice: hold the ball, occupy defenders, finish ruthlessly when the chance arrives.
Walking the tightrope against Sundowns’ pace
Everything circles back to one word: balance. Sundowns thrive when opponents lose their shape, when full-backs push too high or midfielders switch off for a second. Their pace and instinct for exploiting gaps turn half-chances into chaos.
That makes the movement of Al-Ahli’s midfielders and full-backs decisive. If Atangana and Diaby drop too deep, Toney becomes isolated and the three behind him starve of service. If the back four stretches or the full-backs get caught ahead of the ball, Sundowns will find the channels and run.
Pusic has chosen a line-up that can do both jobs: absorb and strike. Whether it holds under the strain of Sundowns’ tempo will tell Al-Ahli far more than the scoreline alone. It will reveal if this team is ready to stay in the tournament long enough to matter.
