MW20 Team of the Week: Fabinho, Al Ghannam, Retegui included!

With Matchweek 20 in the books (check out our must-read Talking Points), we bring you the best performers in their respective positions for the round, using the Roshn Saudi League’s unique Performance Index.

The explainer is just below, while you can use the filter option to select the appropriate matchweek and, from this matchweek, select from a number of formations.

The Team of the Week below is pegged to our traditional 4-4-2.

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Kewin - 96

The Brazilian’s third clean sheet of the campaign proved very timely, with 15th-placed Damac holding on for a goalless draw at home to Al Kholood to stay above the drop zone on goal difference. Kewin chipped in with three saves and a team-high seven recoveries.

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Shaquille Pinas - 93

On the opposite team, the Suriname captain ensured Al Kholood departed Khamis Mushait with a share of the spoils. Pinas created three chances and made two inceptions - both better than any of his teammates - while he led the match for total touches (83).

Mohamed Simakan - 90

It’s no coincidence Al Nassr’s burst back into the title race has coincided with the centre-back’s return. After his goalscoring exploits last time out, Simakan was back to the basics: helping his team keep out Al Riyadh for a 1-0 win. It marked his seventh clean sheet in 14 appearances this term.

Hassan Kadish - 90

Another reeling off the clean sheets at the moment is the Al Ittihad centre-back, whose display went a long way in the RSL champions triumphing 1-0 at home to Al Najmah. Kadish’s fourth blank of the season saw Al Ittihad maintain their top-five hopes.

Sultan Al Ghannam - 87

Like Simakan, the Saudi Arabian full-back has been thriving of late at Al Nassr and was integral to the narrow derby victory at Al Riyadh. Al Ghannam’s three chances created were an equal-best in the encounter, while none of the visitors contributed more than his two crosses.

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Danilo Pereira - 89

Equally adept at the back or the base of midfield, the Portuguese was again his commanding self in defence in that gritty win against the RSL’s bottom club. Pereira topped the game for successful passes (61) and total touches (75), exemplifying his influence.

Zaydou Youssouf - 88

The Al Fateh midfielder had a major say in the hosts rescuing a point against Al Hazem, when he provided the assist for Jorge Fernandes to strike in injury-time. Youssouf’s all-action display can be seen in him producing a joint-high 10 recoveries, while no one made more successful dribbles (four).

Fabinho - 87

For Pereira, read club colleague Fabinho. The Brazilian, pivotal to last season’s title win, is never far from the fray - as was the case in the Al Najmah victory. With N’Golo Kante now departed, much more of the emphasis in midfield will fall on Fabinho’s shoulders.

Mahamadou Doumbia - 86

Fortunately for Fabinho, and Al Ittihad, they have one of the fastest-rising players in the RSL. Doumbia, 21, has really come into his own recently, his latest impressive performance highlighted by a first RSL goal. Coming only four minutes in, it was ultimately the winner.

It wasn’t just that, though: Doumbia’s 10 recoveries represented the game’s equal best, while his three successful dribbles were unmatched.

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Mateo Retegui - 87

If Julian Quinones doesn’t get you, invariably his strike partner will. In fact, it was Quinones who assisted Retegui for the only goal of the game in the derby at Al Khaleej.

The Italian, in his debut season, now has 12 RSL goals as he chases Cristiano Ronaldo's golden boot. In Dammam, he led the contest for shots on target (three) and shots saved (two) as Al Qadsiah’s title shout grows ever louder.

Alexandre Lacazette - 84

Scoring for a second game on the bounce has certainly lifted the gloom around both the Frenchman and NEOM Sports Club.

This time, Lacazette was required to seal a point late on at second-from-bottom Al Okhdood, coolly converting an 85th-minute penalty for the 1-1 draw. He also contributed an equal-best two shots on target and two off.