Al Fateh are still in relegation danger as they head into Friday's Saudi Pro League contest against second-placed Al-Hilal at Al Fateh Club Stadium.
The Role Model enter the gameweek 32 fixture on a three-match winning streak in front of their supporters, aiming to secure four consecutive home triumphs for the first time since 2012 and hoping to end a poor run of results against Al-Za'eem, whose awfully slim title hopes might have disappeared before they play if Al Ittihad beat relegated Al Raed on Thursday.
Match preview
© Imago
Al Fateh enter Friday's matchup against second-placed Al-Hilal knowing they could improve their survival prospects and possibly impact the title race.
Despite the chance to aid Al Ittihad in clinching the league crown if the leaders drop points at Al Raed, Jose Gomes's team, three points clear of 16th-placed Al Orubah, head into the fixture focused on their fight to avoid relegation after a 16-year stay in the top flight.
Their chances are enhanced by their ongoing three-match streak on home turf, including a 2-0 victory over league leaders Al Ittihad last month, demonstrating the Role Model's prowess against the division's top teams.
Although they come into Friday's contest off a defeat at Al Wahda, which ended a six-match unbeaten streak (four wins), the hosts' fighting spirit in Al-Hasa, where they have lost only once in their last seven matches, suggests that Al-Hilal must perform at a high level to overcome Gomes's side.
A victory for the 13th-placed team, which would mark four consecutive home wins for the first time since an eight-match streak from August to December 2012, could elevate the Sons of the Palm to as high as 10th in the standings.
Conversely, Al Namothji enter Friday's match understanding that a loss will not be catastrophic in the short term, given they are tied on head-to-head points with Al Orubah and have the advantage on goal difference over the side in 16th place.
This awareness may allow the hosts to play with reduced pressure against a team they have lost to in four straight encounters across all competitions, including a 9-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in mid-January.
Then managed by Jorge Jesus, the top-scoring side were joint-top of the Saudi Pro League with 40 points after 15 games; however, eight wins from their next 16 matches have left them six points behind the league leaders.
Now managed by Mohammad Al-Shalhoub, who is temporarily in charge of Al-Za'eem, Al-Hilal enter gameweek 32 knowing that a 20th league title is likely unattainable with only nine points remaining to play for this season.
With Al Ittihad playing first in the upcoming round against relegated Al Raed, the Boss could enter Friday's match realising the title is out of reach if the top-placed team secure maximum points on Thursday night.
Despite their superior goal difference over the league leaders, Al-Hilal's 4-1 loss to the team at the top of the table, combined with their earlier 3-1 victory in September, leaves them one goal short on head-to-head goal difference, placing Al-Za'eem at a disadvantage in the title race.
While their title hopes appear slim, the signs for a visitor victory look positive, as they come into the round having earned 10 points from their last four away matches and hold a three-match winning streak in the top flight — four in all competitions — against Al Fateh by an aggregate score of 14-1.
Team News
© Imago
Although Al Fateh sustained no apparent injuries in their previous match against Al Wehda, Al-Hilal loanee Suhayb Al-Zaid is unavailable due to a knee injury.
Only Mourad Batna and Sofiane Bendebka — the latter returning from a one-match suspension for accumulated yellow cards — have hit double figures for Al Namothji; both men, contributing 10 goals apiece, seek to be decisive against the Riyadh outfit.
Joao Cancelo and Yasser Al-Shahrani are missing for second-placed Al-Hilal, while 17-goal forward Marcos Leonardo is absent for personal reasons.
Despite Leonardo's absence, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Salem Al-Dawsari, who have scored 16 and 14 goals respectively, should carry the attacking burden for the away side.
Al-Dawsari has netted in both games under interim boss Al-Shalhoub, including a hat-trick in the 5-3 victory over relegated Al Raed, and he aims to be decisive for Blue Power on Friday.
Al Fateh possible starting lineup:
Al-Aqidi; Baattia, Fernandes, Saadane, Al Zarie; Youssef, Bendebka; Batna, Vargas, Sbai; Ferreira
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bono; Al Yami, Al Tambakti, Koulibaly, Al-Harbi; Kanno, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic; Malcom, Mitrovic, Al-Dawsari
We say: Al Fateh 1-3 Al-Hilal
Even though Al-Hilal's performance entering Friday's match could be affected by the possibility of Al Ittihad claiming the title a day earlier, we expect the league's top-scoring side to overpower Al Fateh and end the home side's three-match winning streak in front of their fans.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
