FOOTBALL – TWO-time defending champions Muharraq were held to a 1-1 stalemate by long-time rivals Al Ahli last night while Hidd spoiled East Riffa’s return to the top flight with a 2-0 victory as matchweek one continued in the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Sayed Hashem Issa put Ahli in front in their highly anticipated encounter with Muharraq at the National Stadium in Riffa, but their opponents equalised through Abdulwahab Al Malood right before the break. Neither team were then able to find a winner over the remainder of their thrilling contest, although both had their chances.
Meanwhile, Algerian professionals Oussama Bellatreche and Samy Frioui were both on target for Hidd on either side of the interval in their triumph over East Riffa at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz.
Hidd joined Al Khaldiya and Sitra from Thursday night as the squads to come away with the full three points to open their respective campaigns this premiership season.
The first matchweek of the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League concludes this evening with two more games on schedule. Riffa, who finished third behind Muharraq and Khaldiya last season, will face off with 2025-26 Bahrain First Division champions Al Ettifaq at the National Stadium, while A’ali will lock horns with Manama at Ahli. Manama are marking their return to the premiership after competing in last campaign’s relegation/promotion play-offs.
Both of this evening’s fixtures are scheduled to kick off at 7pm.
In Muharraq’s draw with Ahli yesterday, Issa opened Ahli’s account in the 27th minute with a fine solo effort from the left of the box. Looking to create an opportunity against the tough defence of Muharraq’s star off-season signing Ahmed Bughammar, Issa created enough space to unleash a low strike that flew into the bottom-right corner of the net, past the outstretched arm of Muharraq’s Serbian custodian Vladan Dekic.
But Muharraq were back on level terms in the 43rd minute when Al Malood showed his own individual class. He received a perfectly timed pass on a one-two with Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior and brilliantly set himself up to score from close range with his second touch, beating former teammate Ebrahim Luthfallah, who was marking his return between the posts following a lengthy injury.
After the re-start, Muharraq’s Bruno Araujo Santos came close in the 48th minute to finding the net, as did da Costa Junior on multiple occasions, including in the 76th minute when he misfired from inside the six-yard box with the Ahli defence scrambling.
Luthfallah later made a key stop with eight minutes left in regular time off a left-footed shot from inside the area by Muharraq substitute Facundo Agustin Tobares.
In Hidd’s win last night, Bellatreche put his team in front with a 45th-minute header from close range off a cross from the left delivered by teammate Jamal Rashed.
Frioui later capped their victory after scoring from the face of goal in the 73rd minute. Bellatreche this time provided the assist on a one-two against East Riffa goalkeeper Salman Adel Al Issa, and Frioui made no mistake with his effort. The goal was originally disallowed as the linesman raised his flag for offside, but after a VAR review, that call was overturned and Hidd went up 2-0.
Following tonight’s affairs, matchweek two of the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League will be played from Wednesday to Saturday next week, to be followed by the third matchweek from September 10 to 12.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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