Bosic Unleashes Bold New Attack for Al-Ahli
A new test, a new look. Mario Bosic has rolled the dice.
For Al-Ahli’s fifth-round clash in the Saudi league against Al-Riyadh, the coach has sent out an unapologetically attacking side, built around a sharp, ambitious front three of Francisco Trincao, Wenderson Galeno and Ivan Toney. No hiding, no half-measures. This is a line-up picked to dominate the ball and punish mistakes.
Behind them, the structure is clear. Edouard Mendy anchors the team from goal, the experienced keeper charged with giving licence to those in front to push high. The back line of Rayan Hamed, Mohammed Bakr, Roger Ibanez and Saad Bulaihid carries both physical presence and balance, with Ibanez expected to marshal the unit and Bulaihid offering width on the flank.
In midfield, Bosic has packed energy and craft. Valentin Atangana and Artem Bondarenko provide the legs and bite in the engine room, while Edward Spertsyan operates as the creative hinge, linking play and feeding the front three. If the chemistry clicks, Al-Ahli will have passing lanes everywhere and runners from deep to overload Al-Riyadh’s defensive block.
Then comes the real statement: Trincao cutting in with his left foot, Galeno driving at full-backs with pace, and Toney leading the line, a focal point who can finish, hold up play and drag defenders out of shape. On paper, it is a trident built to stretch any back four in the division.
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 side that looks ready to suffer without the ball and strike when the gaps appear. Milan Borjan starts in goal, a steadying presence expected to face sustained pressure. In front of him, Sultan Al-Aisa, Abdulelah Al-Khaibari, Rodrigo Abascal and Sulaiman Hazazi form a back line that will likely sit compact, trying to close off the spaces Trincao and Galeno love to attack.
The midfield blend of Fahad Jizani, Victor Lekhal and Teddy Okou suggests hard running and quick transitions, with Issam Bahri and Hassan Al-Ali supporting Antonis in attack. It is a line-up that hints at counter-attacking intent, built to spring forward the moment Al-Ahli lose their shape.
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 side has gone all-in on firepower. The other looks ready to absorb and break. For Bosic and his new-look Al-Raqi, this is not just another league game. It is a clear marker of how they intend to play the season.
