Al Ahli Reclaim Saudi Pro League Top Spot — Own Goal Sinks Al Riyadh as Title Race Gets Ruthless
Al Ahli sit back at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. Not because they played brilliantly — they had three goals disallowed — but because they kept pressing, stayed disciplined, and eventually got what they deserved through the most unlikely of sources: Milan Borjan’s own net.
The 1-0 win over Al Riyadh at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on 26 February 2026 moved Al Ahli one point clear of Al Nassr, who had briefly claimed top spot just 24 hours earlier. With ten matches of the season remaining, the title race now belongs to three clubs — and none of them can afford a single slip.
This is the Saudi Pro League at its most compelling. You’ll find the full fixture calendar and upcoming Riyadh events at RiyadhTicketsMap.
The Goal That Settled It: Borjan’s 75th-Minute Nightmare
For 74 minutes, Milan Borjan was arguably the best player on the pitch. The Al Riyadh goalkeeper made a string of crucial saves to keep Al Ahli at bay through wave after wave of pressure from Matthias Jaissle’s side.
Then came the 75th minute.
A cross into the box caught Borjan completely wrong-footed. The veteran Canadian international could only watch the ball loop off his body and into his own net. It was football’s cruelest irony: the goalkeeper who kept his side in the match ultimately decided it against them.
Jaissle had rested Riyad Mahrez and Enzo Millot — a calculated rotation ahead of a congested fixture schedule — yet Al Ahli still created enough to win by a far wider margin. VAR disallowed three Al Ahli finishes for offside, including a Roger Ibañez header and a Galeno strike. Whether those calls hold up to scrutiny will be debated in Jeddah for days.
The result itself is not debatable. Al Ahli: 1. Al Riyadh: 0. And Al Ahli: first.
Saudi Pro League Standings: Top 4
As of 27 February 2026. Source: ESPN & Saudi Pro League official (spl.com.sa).
Al Ahli’s points-per-game average across 24 matches is now the league’s highest. They have conceded just 12 goals all season — the best defensive record in the division. That is not a coincidence. That is a system.
What This Result Means for the Title Race
This is where it gets genuinely fascinating.
Al Nassr have played one fewer game than Al Ahli. They sit one point behind with a superior goal difference of +44 versus Al Ahli’s +31. Ronaldo’s side remain in the driving seat in one sense — a win in their game in hand would put them level on points and ahead on goal difference.
But this title race is no longer a two-horse contest. Al Hilal, despite three draws in their last five league outings, sit just four points off Al Ahli with a game in hand of their own. They remain the only unbeaten side in the Saudi Pro League all season.
And then there is Al Qadsiah — only six points off top spot in fourth — with Brendan Rodgers quietly assembling one of the most efficient squads in the division.
The upcoming fixtures will define everything. Al Ahli’s next league assignment is a home tie against Al Ittihad — not a title challenger, but a side with enough quality and pride to cause damage on any given night. Full match details at Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli.
Ivan Toney’s Golden Boot Lead: Two Goals Clear of Ronaldo
The individual story running parallel to the title race is equally compelling.
Al Ahli forward Ivan Toney now leads the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot race with 23 goals. He did not score against Al Riyadh, but his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo widened to two as the season enters its final third.
Toney arrived from Brentford amid genuine scepticism about whether a forward with no elite European experience could adapt quickly enough to Saudi football’s demands. The answer has been emphatic. He has become the focal point of Jaissle’s attack, combining physical dominance with a finishing intelligence that has surprised even those who tracked him closely in the Premier League.
In a rare public statement this week, Toney told talkSPORT he harbours ambitions of returning to England one day, but made clear he has unfinished business in Saudi Arabia and wants to win trophies first. That mindset, applied consistently every matchday, is precisely why he leads the chart.
Ronaldo sits on 21 goals for the season — still an extraordinary tally for a 41-year-old — but the Portuguese icon will know the Golden Boot is slipping away. The Al Nassr vs Al Hilal fixture in the season run-in could define both the title race and individual honours simultaneously.
Five Wins in a Row: The Stats Behind Al Ahli’s Streak
This victory was Al Ahli’s fifth consecutive Saudi Pro League win. In that run, they have scored 14 goals and conceded just two. That is not a purple patch — that is a team operating at the peak of its tactical identity.
Jaissle’s system is built on width, high pressing, and fast transitions. Galeno and Willian provide constant directional threat from the flanks. Franck Kessie anchors the midfield with a physical authority that gives the creative players freedom to work. Ivan Toney acts as the fixed reference point through which all of that creativity flows.
The three disallowed goals against Al Riyadh were frustrating but, in a strange way, illustrative. They reflect how frequently Al Ahli get into genuine goalscoring positions. On another night, this could have been four nil.
The pivotal fixture between two direct title rivals is still to come. Al Ahli face Al Qadsiah in a match that could have a major say in the final standings — check the full preview at Al Ahli vs Al Qadsiah. And the biggest remaining league clash between the top two is previewed at Al Ahli vs Al Hilal.
Al Riyadh: The Table Tells the Full Story
Al Riyadh sit 15th with 16 points from 24 matches. Their position in the table is not the result of bad luck or fine margins — it reflects a squad that has simply not had the consistency to compete across a full season.
They will take some comfort from Borjan’s performance before his costly mistake. He made at least five saves of genuine quality and without him, the scoreline would have looked very different from early in the second half. But a side in 15th place cannot live on moral victories.
Their next fixture is against Al Nassr — a side that beat them 5-1 in the same fixture earlier this campaign. Ronaldo’s return to form in recent weeks makes that encounter even more daunting.
Matchday 24 Context: A 24-Hour Swing at the Top
Matchday 24 of the Saudi Pro League ran across 26-27 February 2026. Al Nassr played a day before Al Ahli and temporarily climbed to the top of the table. Al Ahli’s win then moved them back above on the head-to-head points and goal difference calculation.
This is the kind of daily swing that makes this title race appointment viewing. Three clubs within four points. Two of them with games in hand. One of them unbeaten all season. The Saudi Pro League is producing a title race that demands attention from anyone serious about modern football.
For the full picture of what is coming up across all Riyadh fixtures and events — football, boxing, tennis, and more — visit RiyadhTicketsMap.
The Saudi Pro League winter transfer window reshaped the division in January 2026. The squads assembled during that window are now being tested in the matches that matter most.
What Happens Next: The Run-In Starts Now
Al Ahli’s remaining schedule includes fixtures against sides in the top six as well as the kind of mid-table opponents where dropped points are most dangerous. Jaissle’s rotation against Al Riyadh suggests he is managing the squad carefully across multiple fronts — the right call, but one that carries risk against a congested run of fixtures.
Al Nassr have the goal difference advantage. Al Hilal have the unbeaten record. Al Ahli have the current form and the Golden Boot leader. Three clubs. Three different weapons. The same prize.
For the complete picture of Al Ahli’s season, squad, and remaining fixture list, see the Al Ahli Saudi FC team hub. Editorial standards for all coverage at RiyadhTicketsMap are governed by our editorial guidelines and ethics policy.
FAQ
Did Al Ahli go top of the Saudi Pro League on 26 February 2026?
Yes. Al Ahli’s 1-0 win over Al Riyadh moved them to 59 points from 24 matches, one point above Al Nassr, who have played one fewer game.
How did Al Ahli score against Al Riyadh?
The only goal came in the 75th minute — an own goal by Al Riyadh goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who deflected a cross into his own net.
Who leads the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot race?
Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney leads with 23 goals, two ahead of Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo on 21.
Why were three Al Ahli goals disallowed?
VAR ruled three Al Ahli finishes offside during the match, including a Roger Ibañez header and a Galeno strike. Al Ahli created enough chances to have won by a significantly larger margin.
What is Al Ahli’s next Saudi Pro League fixture?
Al Ahli face Al Ittihad in their next league match. Full details are available on the Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli fixture page.
Sources: ESPN, Saudi Pro League official (spl.com.sa), The National, Arab News, talkSPORT. All statistics as of 27 February 2026.