Contents
- Competition: Saudi Pro League
- Date: Thursday, 25th, December 2025
- Kickoff: 17:30 UK / 18:30 CET
- Venue: King Khalid Sports City (Tabuk)
A fascinating encounter on Christmas Day sees ambitious newcomers NEOM SC play host to the struggling Al-Najma SC in the Saudi Pro League, with both teams eager for a vital three points for vastly different reasons.
NEOM SC vs Al Najma Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
NEOM SC
2 : 0
Al Najma
Division 1
-
Al Najma
2 : 3
NEOM SC
Division 1
-
Al Najma
2 : 1
NEOM SC
Division 2
-
NEOM SC
2 : 5
Al Najma
Division 2
Having both been promoted from the First Division last season, NEOM SC will take significant confidence from the fact they have already beaten Al-Najma twice in their short history, including a dominant 2-0 victory in their most recent meeting in February 2025.
NEOM team overview
After securing the Division 1 title last season and earning a historic first-ever promotion to the top flight, life in the Saudi Pro League has been something of a mixed bag for newly promoted NEOM SC. Still, they can take encouragement from their current position, sitting a respectable eighth in the standings.
As things stand, the Falcons appear well on course to achieve their primary objective of survival. A solid return of 14 points has lifted them nine points clear of the relegation zone, although complacency must be avoided with only nine rounds of the campaign completed so far.
Under the guidance of former PSG and Lille boss Christophe Galtier, NEOM have struggled to find consistency in recent weeks. A dramatic 3-2 victory over Al Kholood remains their only win across the last five league fixtures, alongside two draws and two defeats during that spell.
Home form has been a particular area of concern, with NEOM failing to impose themselves in front of their own supporters, collecting just four points from four home outings this season. However, a clash against the league’s bottom side presents an ideal opportunity to turn that narrative around and deliver a morale-boosting result on familiar turf.
On the team news front, Galtier will be without Uruguayan forward Luciano Rodriguez, who is serving the second game of a three-match suspension, while experienced duo Ahmed Hegazy and Salman Al-Faraj remain sidelined through injury.
Last matches of NEOM SC
-
Al Taawoun
1 : 1
NEOM SC
Pro League
-
NEOM SC
1 : 3
Al Nassr
Pro League
-
Al Kholood
2 : 3
NEOM SC
Pro League
-
NEOM SC
1 : 1
Al Khaleej
Pro League
-
NEOM SC
1 : 3
Al-Qadsiah
Pro League
NEOM SC lineup
Goalkeeper
-
81
Luís Maximiano
Defenders
-
25
Faris Abdi
-
15
Abdulmalik Al-Oyayari
-
44
Nathan Zézé
-
4
Khalifah Al-Dawsari
Midfielders
-
8
Abdoulaye Doucouré
-
72
Amadou Koné
-
10
Saïd Benrahma
-
24
Abdulaziz Noor
Forwards
-
22
Saïmon Bouabré
-
91
Alexandre Lacazette
Al Najma team overview
The harsh realities of Saudi Pro League football have quickly caught up with newly promoted Al-Najma SC, who currently find themselves anchored to the foot of the table in 18th place. Their return to the top flight has been nothing short of torrid, collecting just a single point from nine league outings - with no victories, one draw, and eight defeats to their name.
The early-season struggles have left head coach Vítor Campelos facing a daunting task, as his side has failed to find stability at either end of the pitch. Al-Najma boast one of the league’s weakest defensive records while also lacking cutting edge in attack, a combination that has severely hampered their ability to compete.
A run of five consecutive league defeats further underlines the fragile confidence and limited resilience within the squad. If survival is to remain a realistic ambition, a dramatic upturn in performances will be required, and a positive result against NEOM SC could serve as the shock catalyst needed to breathe life into their faltering campaign.
In terms of team news, long-term absentee Mohammed Al-Kunaydiri remains sidelined until August 2026 after suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury, but aside from that, Campelos has a fully fit squad at his disposal.
Last matches of Al Najma
-
Damac FC
0 : 0
Al Najma
Pro League
-
Al Najma
2 : 4
Al Hilal
Pro League
-
Al Akhdoud
2 : 1
Al Najma
Pro League
-
Al Kholood
1 : 0
Al Najma
Kings Cup
-
Al Najma
0 : 1
Al Ahli
Pro League
Al Najma lineup
Goalkeeper
-
87
Walid Al-Enezi
Defenders
-
6
Khaled Al-Shammari
-
4
Nasser Al-Haleel
-
3
Samir Caetano
Midfielders
-
19
Fahad Al-Abdulrazzaq
-
20
Deybi Flores
-
8
Abdulelah Al-Shammari
-
23
Rakan Al-Tulayhi
-
2
Vitor Vargas
Forwards
-
9
Romell Quioto
-
14
Ali Jasim
Prediction
This encounter at the King Khalid Sport City Stadium pits a team with aspirations of solidifying their top-half status against one battling a significant crisis of confidence.
Despite NEOM's recent inconsistencies, the gulf in class and quality between the two promoted sides is substantial. The hosts boast game-changing talent in the final third, with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette likely to spearhead a dominant attacking display. Al-Najma SC, on the other hand, look devoid of inspiration and resilience. Their abysmal defensive record suggests they will struggle immensely to contain NEOM's offensive juggernaut.
We anticipate a dominant performance from Christophe Galtier's side. NEOM SC should comfortably dispatch the league's basement boys in a comprehensive victory, further deepening Al-Najma's relegation woes.
Three Reasons we expect NEOM to Win
- NEOM are unbeaten in three of their last four Saudi Pro League matches.
- Al Najma have lost eight of their opening nine top-flight fixtures.
- Last season, when both sides competed in the second tier, NEOM defeated Al Najma in both head-to-head encounters.
Main prediction NEOM SC - Al Najma
NEOM SC to win
Best Odds:
NEOM SC vs Al Najma standings in Pro League
| Regular Season | P | W | D | L |
G - A
|
GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Nassr | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 30 - 5 | +25 | 27 |
| 2 | Al Hilal | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 24 - 9 | +15 | 23 |
| 3 | Al Taawoun | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 24 - 13 | +11 | 22 |
| 4 | Al Ahli | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 12 - 6 | +6 | 19 |
| 5 | Al-Qadsiah | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 - 9 | +7 | 17 |
| 6 | Al Khaleej | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 22 - 15 | +7 | 14 |
| 7 | Al Ittihad | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 - 15 | +2 | 14 |
| 8 | NEOM SC | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 - 14 | -1 | 14 |
| 9 | Al Ettifaq | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 - 18 | -5 | 12 |
| 10 | Al-Fayha | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 - 13 | -2 | 11 |
| 11 | Al Kholood | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 13 - 17 | -4 | 9 |
| 12 | Al Hazm | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 - 14 | -6 | 9 |
| 13 | Al Shabab | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 - 11 | -4 | 8 |
| 14 | Al Riyadh | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 - 19 | -9 | 8 |
| 15 | Al Akhdoud | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 - 18 | -9 | 5 |
| 16 | Damac FC | 9 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 8 - 17 | -9 | 5 |
| 17 | Al Fateh | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 - 21 | -11 | 5 |
| 18 | Al Najma | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 - 20 | -13 | 1 |