The Roshn Saudi League has come through a busy winter transfer window - check out all the comings and goings HERE - thus bringing significant changes to team squads across the division.With Matchday 2...
The Roshn Saudi League has come through a busy winter transfer window - check out all the comings and goings HERE - thus bringing significant changes to team squads across the division.
With Matchday 21 marking the first round after the market’s closure, RSL Fantasy selections should be made carefully. The focus this week falls on players who're already settled and have featured consistently in recent rounds.
Here’s our recommendations for Matchweek 21, laid out nicely in a first XI, all while sticking to a budget of SAR 80 million.
Not already playing? Well, what are you waiting for: sign up at https://en.fantasy.spl.com.sa now!
--------
Goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy - Al Ahli (5.5 million)
The Senegal international leads all goalkeepers this season with eight clean sheets. Despite missing seven rounds because of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Mendy remains among the top point scorers.
The AFCON winner faces Al Hazem, a team against whom he recorded his joint-highest Fantasy return of 14 points - matching his performance against NEOM Sports Club in Matchweek 1.
--------
Francisco Calvo - Al Ettifaq (5.4m)
Calvo has been one of the standout defenders in his debut RSL season. The Costa Rican sits inside the top five defenders overall with 118 points and has contributed five goal contributions. Al Ettifaq host Damac, and Calvo is well placed to continue his strong run.
Roger Ibanez - Al Ahli (6.1m)
With Merih Demiral sidelined by a hamstring injury, Ibanez is expected to shoulder more responsibility at the back. The Brazilian impressed against Al Hilal last round and was a Man of the Match contender, while he has already amassed 110 points this season. Therefore, he remains a reliable Fantasy option.
Chris Smalling - Al Fayha (5.1m)
Although just outside the top five defenders, the former Manchester United centre-back has comfortably passed the 100-point mark.
A key figure under coach Pedro Emanuel, Smalling has featured in every match so far this campaign. Al Fayha host bottom club Al Najmah this round, offering another solid opportunity for returns.
Mohammed Abu Shamat - Al Qadsiah (6.3m)
The highest-scoring defender in the game with 144 points, Abu Shamat is also Fantasy’s top assist provider among defenders. As such, he is second in price only to Theo Hernandez.
However, title-chasing Al Qadsiah welcome Al Fateh in the final fixture of Matchday 21, offering the chance for Brendan Rodgers’ free-flowing side to thrive.
--------
Midfield
Ruben Neves - Al Hilal (8.1m)
Despite uncertainty - publicly at least - surrounding his future in recent weeks, Neves has quietly built an impressive 174 points total, meaning he sits just 14 shy of the Fantasy league leader.
Neves will no doubt be in buoyant mood in his first match since extending his contract with table-topping Al Hilal until 2029 trip when he makes the trip to face second-from-bottom Al Okhdood.
Julian Quinones - Al Qadsiah (10.3m)
Only one point behind Neves sits former Fantasy leader Quinones. The Mexican forward has scored 17 goals this term and thus is brilliantly placed in the golden boot rankings, while he boasts the longest streak of consecutive goal contributions this season (nine matches).
He also leads the league in Man of the Match awards (eight) and is tied for the most All-Star Team appearances (six), alongside Ivan Toney and Neves.
Georginio Wijnaldum - Al Ettifaq (7.6m)
The Al Ettifaq captain was in top form at this stage last season and has carried that momentum into the current campaign. His understanding with coach Saad Al Shehri continues to grow, and he now has 127 points, along with a strong fan approval rating of 19.7 percent.
With relegation-threatened Damac at home, expect Wijnaldum to make another impact.
Yannick Carrasco - Al Shabab (7.1m)Al Shabab’s league position of 13th may be underwhelming - they are, though, on a promising run - but Carrasco remains impossible to ignore. The Belgian captain delivered the most impressive assist of the previous round, as voted by fans.
Recent squad changes have given him greater attacking freedom, and he’ll look to capitalise away to an off-form Al Kholood.
Attack
Alexandre Lacazette - NEOM SC (6.8m)
Lacazette struck his seventh goal of the season in the last round - his second successive matchweek on the scoresheet - and leads NEOM SC in Fantasy points, with 111. NEOM host a struggling Al Riyadh, a fixture in which the French frontman collected 15 points in Round 4 - his second-best return of the campaign.
Ivan Toney - Al Ahli (11.0m)Toney tops the Fantasy standings with 188 points, level with Al Nassr counterpart Joao Felix. He had scored in eight consecutive matches, though he narrowly missed the chance to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of nine straight scoring games when he failed to find the net against Al Hilal last time out.
The 40.1% of managers who still own 2025-26 RSL top scorer Toney, RSL January Player of the Month, will be hoping that was merely a brief pause before he resumes his scoring run.
--------
Final Thoughts
Our line-up features a mix of proven performers and potential breakout stars. Make sure to keep an eye on player form and match-ups as you finalise your team for Matchweek 21. Happy managing!
Category: General Sports
