Stalemate in Beni Mellal Leaves Both Sides Searching for Answers as Early Season Struggles Continue

BENI MELLAL, Morocco — On an autumn afternoon heavy with expectation but light on reward, Raja Beni Mellal and USM Oujda played out a goalless draw at the Stade honneur de Beni Mellal, a result that leaves both clubs mired in their early-season woes and searching for a spark to ignite their campaign in Botola 2.

For Raja Beni Mellal, the point was their first return of the young season—a modest gain, but a minor balm for the wounds of two consecutive defeats. For USM Oujda, the draw hardly elevated their fortunes, either, though it did inch them to two points from three games, good enough to hold 13th place in a league demanding far more to stave off anxiety.

A Cagey Contest, Dominated by Missed Chances

From the opening whistle, urgency was evident but execution was not. Both sides, embroiled in the lower rungs of the table and desperate to reverse their fortunes, played with notable caution—a tone set by recent disappointments and the tension of the occasion.

The hosts, cheered on by a contingent of loyal supporters, threatened first when winger Yassine El Maaroufi found space in the 13th minute. His curling effort from just inside the box forced an alert save from USM Oujda keeper Reda Bouchaib, who would feature prominently throughout the afternoon.

USM Oujda, themselves nursing the sting of a narrow loss to El Massira and an opening-day draw, found their rhythm midway through the first half. The best opportunity fell to midfielder Noureddine Kaddouri in the 27th minute, but his driven shot was bravely blocked by Raja defender Mohamed El Amrani, typifying the hosts’ newfound defensive resolve after conceding five goals in their first two outings.

Midfield collisions and tactical fouls punctuated a first half that fizzled rather than flared. A yellow card apiece—Hicham Benyahia for the hosts and Anis Mahjoubi for the visitors—underlined the underlying tension without tilting the balance either way.

Second Half: Flurries of Hope, But No Breakthrough

With the sun dipping behind the Beni Mellal hills, urgency crept into the second half. Raja, in particular, strove for a breakthrough, pushing numbers forward and momentarily unsettling Oujda’s defensive line. The departure of USM Oujda’s playmaker Abdellatif Ziani to injury in the 57th minute robbed the visitors of much creativity, compounding their growing list of concerns.

The best chance of the match came in the 72nd minute, when Raja substitute Ayoub El Gharbi latched onto a loose ball, only to see his low drive smothered once more by Bouchaib, whose sharp reflexes preserved the stalemate.

Oujda nearly snatched victory against the run of play in the final minutes. A sweeping counter led by winger Walid Ghanimi culminated in a powerful header from Yassir Abdeladim, which rattled the crossbar before bouncing to safety—an audacious reminder of how fragile the margins remain at this stage of the season.

Context: Early Struggles and Mounting Pressure

The final whistle was met with a mix of relief and resignation; both sides, for all their effort, remain winless after three rounds. Raja Beni Mellal, historically a resilient side at home, have proven brittle in early fixtures, conceding twice at Amal Tiznit and three times at KAC Kenitra. Securing their first clean sheet offered a glimmer of defensive improvement, though their inability to find the back of the net—just one goal scored in three outings—remains a problem demanding immediate attention.

USM Oujda, for their part, have shown flashes of organization but little cutting edge. Saturday's draw marks back-to-back games without defeat, yet their attack has managed just two goals in as many weeks. The absence of a reliable scorer continues to hinder their ambitions, a deficiency that has them hovering just above the early relegation zone.

Historically, encounters between these two sides have delivered drama—last season’s double saw both sides share the spoils in tight contests—but today’s tepid affair did little to add to that narrative.

The Road Ahead

For Raja Beni Mellal, the search for points becomes ever more urgent with every passing week. The draw halts their losing run, but with a trip to high-flying Olympique Dcheira looming, the margin for error is dwindling fast.

USM Oujda, meanwhile, return home to face an equally troubled Ittihad Khemisset. There, the expectation will be clear: only victory will suffice to dispel the sense of early-season stagnation.

In Beni Mellal, the question is whether today’s hard-fought draw represents a foundation on which to build, or simply a fleeting pause in a worrying downward trend. For both sides, the need for answers will only grow more acute as the Botola 2 season gathers pace.