To get an idea of ​​how important it is that Al Khaleej are currently sixth in the Roshn Saudi League, almost a third in the 2024-2025 season, you have to look back at their recent history in the competition.

This represents only their sixth season in the RSL in the Saudi Pro League era, and at the end of only one of the 142 rounds in those five previous campaigns were they sitting higher in the table than they are now. At the time, ten rounds into the 2015-2016 season, Al Khaleej was actually one place better off than now, in fifth place.

So currently finishing sixth, after three straight RSL wins, puts the 2024-2025 class in a rarefied atmosphere. The question on everyone’s lips: how long can they keep the good times going?

After a disastrous end to the 2023-2024 season, Al Khaleej finished without a single win in their last eight matches. Only a run of six without defeat prior to that unwanted run saved Pedro Emanuel’s team from relegation. All told, it was enough to force a management change this offseason.

Out went relative RSL veteran Emanuel, who also has experience coaching Al Taawoun and Al Nassr, and in came another strong player from the Saudi scene, former Greek international Georgios Donis.

Donis is no stranger to top football in the Kingdom. He has spent time in charge of Al Hilal, Al Wehda (for two periods) and Al Fateh. While considering the wider region, he also worked in the UAE with Sharjah.

It was a summer appointment that actually caused little fuss outside those who followed Al Khaleej, but which bore significant fruit early in his tenure – albeit after some initial hiccups.

A 1-0 victory on the opening day over Damac to start the season made for an ideal start, but a run of three defeats and a draw followed, certainly not in the script, as the team needed time to adapt . Donis’ new methods. During that time, the former Panathinaikos and Blackburn midfielder tinkered with his formation and personnel, trying to find the magic formula that would bring success to the Saihat-based team.

Over three matches against Al Taawoun, Al Fayha and Al Ittihad, Donis used three different formations – 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and 5-3-2 respectively – and tinkered with the starting XI each time. using 16 different players over those three match weeks.

But since last month’s 1-0 win at home to Al Kholood in Matchweek 6, where Al Khaleej won four of the last five and only Al Ahli lost, the tinkering has stopped. It is understandable that Donis has chosen both the system and the personnel. The 4-2-3-1 has become Al Khaleej’s preferred playing style, with only thirteen players appearing in the five RSL matches. In the past three – all of which have led to victories – Donis has named an unchanged starting XI.

That consistency in approach and team composition has paid off, and it’s good: Al Khaleej is one of only four clubs to have won the three RSL matches heading into FIFA’s recent international break. The other three? Al Ittihad, Al Shabab and Al Qadsiah, three of the current top five.

If you include goals scored, Al Khaleej are the most in-form team in the competition over the last three matchweeks, with a maximum of nine points and nine goals scored.

They also have Abdullah Al Salem, the league’s most popular Saudi Arabian striker, the relatively unknown 31-year-old who has scored four goals in his past two games, making him the leading local goalscorer in the league this season. Al Salem is well supported by long-time RSL standout Fabio Martins and has five in total.

Although a small sample size, it is still a significant achievement for Al Khaleej, which typically lags behind its Eastern Province neighbors Al Ettifaq and Al Qadsiah in terms of budget. Intriguingly, they will be confronted with both over the next three weeks.

But before then, Al Khaleej face their toughest test of the season when Donis faces his former side, defending champions and leaders Al Hilal, this weekend. Taking points from the country’s current top team is no easy task, something only Riyadh rivals Al Nassr have managed twice so far this calendar year.

Still without Salem Al Dawsari, Ruben Neves and Neymar, the star trio’s absence perhaps offers a glimmer of hope for Donis and his side as they welcome to Dammam a team looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to a remarkable 47 games.

If Donis’ side wants to get anything out of the game, they will have to overcome history to do so. In the twelve previous meetings between the two, Al Khaleej failed to win a single meeting, with Al Hilal taking maximum points eleven times. The highlight came all the way back in 2006, when the match ended goalless.

Furthermore, Al Khaleej only managed to score twice against their more fancied opponents. Each of these tough matches ended in heavy 4-1 and 6-1 defeats.

Just looking at it doesn’t make for pleasant reading. However, history needs to be rewritten, especially as this side of Al Khaleej chronicles one of the stories of the season so far. With ex-Al Hilal man Donis at the helm, they show that they are different from those who came before them.