On Saturday, a crucial clash in the Saudi Pro League title race will take place as league leaders Al Ittihad welcome their closest challengers Al-Hilal to King Abdullah Sports City.
The hosts sit four points clear at the top of the table after 20 games, making a victory crucial for the visitors to maintain their ongoing title charge.
Match preview
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Al Ittihad brilliantly ended their 14-year Saudi Pro League title drought as they were crowned champions in 2022-23, finishing five points above second-placed Al-Nassr.
Despite a remarkable summer transfer window that saw them sign high-profile stars such as Fabinho, Luiz Felipe, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante as they aimed to defend their title, Al Ittihad had a highly disappointing 2023-24 season, finishing fifth.
The People's Club responded to that underperformance with another excellent transfer window, bringing in Moussa Diaby, Steven Bergwijn, Houssem Aouar and Danilo Pereira, among others, and their arrivals have certainly played a key role in turning the team's fortunes around.
Al Ittihad currently sit four points clear at the top of the table with 52 points from 20 matches, boasting 17 wins, one draw and only two defeats, and a victory on Saturday would extend their lead to a commanding seven points.
Despite their dominance over much of the league, especially this term, Al-Hilal have consistently had the upper hand against Al Ittihad in recent meetings, losing just one of the last 14 encounters - a penalty shootout defeat in this year's King's Cup quarter-finals.
Twelve wins and one draw during that period will give Blue Power significant confidence heading into this clash, and a victory is essential for Al-Hilal to maintain their title charge, as three points would narrow the gap to just one, while defeat extends the gap to a considerable seven.
Al-Hilal are no strangers to the pressures of a title challenge, having cemented their status as the most successful club in the league's history with a record 19 Saudi Pro League titles.
They have been particularly successful since the turn of the millennium, winning the Saudi Pro League title in 11 of the last 24 seasons, including four of the past five.
Al-Hilal have uncharacteristically fallen short of their usual standard in away league fixtures this season, earning 20 points from 10 matches with six wins, two draws, and two losses.
However, with the likes of Ruben Neves, Malcom, Salem Al-Dawsari, Marcos Leonardo, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksander Mitrovic and Renan Lodi all potentially at their disposal, Al-Hilal remain serious contenders in every outing.
Team News
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The hosts are expected to be without the services of Mario Mitaj due to a muscle injury, while Ahmed Mohammed Sharahili is a doubt as he returns from a cruciate ligament injury.
Benzema is the second highest scorer in the league with 15 goals, including five in his last six fixtures, and the striker will lead the line for the hosts once again here.
Diaby, Aouar and Bergwijn are expected to feature just behind the striker, while Fabinho and Kante are anticipated to partner up to form the base of the midfield.
As for Al-Hilal, Lodi is a doubt due to an injury that he sustained earlier in the month, while Mitrovic remains uncertain due to a hamstring injury he suffered in January.
Leonardo has deputised phenomenally in the absence of Mitrovic, with the Brazilian boasting 13 goals from 16 league appearances, and he is expected to start in attack here.
Milinkovic-Savic and Neves will partner in the middle of the park, with Malcom starting just ahead of them, while Koulibaly is expected to play alongside Hassan Al Tambakti in the centre of defence.
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Shanqeeti, Al-Mousa, Pereira, Kadesh; Kante, Fabinho; Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bono; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Tambakti, Al-Harbi; Neves, Milinkovic-Savic; Cesar, Malcom, Al-Dawsari; Leonardo
We say: Al Ittihad 2-2 Al-Hilal
Al Ittihad remain undefeated at home in the league this season, while the visitors have struggled on the road, however, considering Al-Hilal's strong record in recent encounters, we believe this match will end in a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
