Al Ettifaqvs.Al Ittihad

Match preview

Following a tumultuous end to the last campaign, Al Ittihad made the decision to relieve Marcelo Gallardo of his managerial duties in favour of uniting superstar Karim Benzema with legendary French manager Laurent Blanc.

While Blanc and his side needed a late winner from Houssem Aouar to claim a 1-0 win over Al Kholood in their opening fixture, they have since won 11 of the subsequent 12 matches either side of a 3-1 defeat to Al-Hilal, which remains their only defeat to date.

Following a 2-0 victory over Al Fateh courtesy of goals from Fabinho and Aouar last time out, Nadi Al-Sha'ab have moved two points clear of Al Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League table with about a third of the season played.

Al Ittihad are the only team other than Al Hilal to have won the Saudi Pro League in the last five years, and they will be keen to reclaim their domestic crown having relinquished it without a fight last season.

Securing all three points on Saturday would see the away side move five points clear at the top for a few hours at least before Al-Hilal face off against an in-form Al-Shabab side at the Al-Shabab Club Stadium.

After kicking off their new season with three wins on the bounce by a combined score of 4-1, Al Ettifaq suffered a massive dip in form which saw them lose five and draw three of their next eight league encounters.

Amid all of their turmoils in the league, Steven Gerrard's men have been excellent on the continental front having won all three of their Gulf Club Champions League group-stage matches this term to sit top of Group B.

However, The Knights of Ad-Dahna will be focused on reviving their league journey as they currently sit 13th in the standings, just three points ahead of relegation danger, albeit with a game in hand.

Al Ettifaq (nine) are one of only three teams yet to hit double digits for goals this season, and a significant turnaround is needed at the top end of the pitch if Saturday's hosts are to recover from a slow start domestically.

Al Ettifaq Saudi Pro League form:

L

L

D

L

L

D

Al Ittihad Saudi Pro League form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Abdullah Radif missed Al Ettifaq's last league outing against Al Riyadh due to a suspension, but the forward is back in contention to feature in some capacity on Saturday.

Karl Toko Ekambi will be aiming to come up trumps for the hosts once again after recently ending a six-game goal drought with a double against Al Arabi.

Off the back of a fifth straight clean sheet, we expect Blanc to stick to his trusted defensive unit of Muhannad Al Shanqiti and Mario Mitaj either side of Saad Al Mousa and Danilo Pereira.

Karim Benzema is set to miss a fifth game on the bounce for the away side, although the 36-year-old forward is making progress towards returning to action.

Al Ettifaq possible starting lineup:

Rodak; Al Olayan, Madu, Khateeb, Al Otaibi; Medran, Wijnaldum, Fofana; Gray, Toko Ekambi, Dembele

Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Al Shanqiti, Al Mousa, Pereira, Mitaj; Kante, Fabinho; Hawsawi, Aouar, Bergwijn; Al Shehri

We say: Al Ettifaq 0-2 Al Ittihad

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