Diriyah beat Al Ettifaq 3-0, climb to fifth in league

Newly promoted Diriyah continued their impressive start to life in the top flight with a commanding 3-0 away win over Al Ettifaq on Saturday 29 August 2026. The result at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam lifted the Riyadh-based side to fifth place in the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League.

Darwin Núñez opened the scoring early in the eighth minute and completed his brace in the 81st, while Adil Boulbina added the second goal in the 53rd minute. The three points gave Diriyah seven from their opening four league matches, a strong return for a club making its first-ever appearance in the Saudi top flight.

Al Ettifaq, meanwhile, slipped to ninth place with six points from four games after the defeat on home turf.

Diriyah secured promotion on 28 May 2026 through the play-offs, becoming the third and final club to be promoted for this season. Although the club carries the Diriyah name in the league listing, it plays its home matches at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh.

For football fans across the Kingdom, the rise of a debutant club adds fresh momentum to the Saudi Pro League season, which runs from 13 August 2026 to 29 May 2027. Diriyah's early form suggests the newcomers could be one of the campaign's talking points as the fixtures continue.

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