Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Al Fayha vs. Al Hazem - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 23 August 2023, 18:54
Al Fayha welcome Al Hazem to Al Majma'ah Sports City for a Saudi Pro League encounter on Friday evening.

The hosts have made a strong start, while newly-promoted Al Hazem are struggling on their top flight return.

Match preview

Al Fayha's strong start began with a comfortable 3-1 win over Al Khaleej on the opening day of the season.

Vuk Rasovic's side followed that up with a surprise draw at one of the title favourites Al Hilal, who had the likes of Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Malcom in their side.

An unbeaten start to the new campaign means Fayha have lost just once in their last seven league games - against current champions Al Ittihad.

Fayha find themselves tied-fourth, with identical records as Al Hilal and Al Fateh in this early stage of the season.

The club's cup success in 2022 means they will play AFC Champions League football this season, so a good start will be important before the workload increases for the side.

In comparison, Al Hazem have had a very disappointing start on their return after promotion last season.

They are one of four teams who have started with two defeats from two, along with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Al Khaleej and Al Raed.

A hat-trick from Roberto Firmino sunk Hazem on the opening day in a 3-1 defeat to Al Ahli, where they scored their only goal of the season so far.

Vina's strike, gifted to him by an awful error by former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, was only a consolation though, as Firmino grabbed the headlines.

It was another Liverpool legend that got the better of Filipe Gouveia's men last weekend, when Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq beat them 2-0.

Without the spending capabilities of the PIF-backed clubs, and without the pulling power AFC Champions League football has brought for the hosts here, Hazem could struggle again.

Al Fayha Saudi Pro League form:

W

D

Al Hazem Saudi Pro League form:

L

L

Advert - content below:

Team News

Fashion Sakala has enjoyed a dream start in the colours of Al Fayha, scoring in both games as well as registering an assist for Ricardo's opener against Al Khaleej.

Gojko Cimirot has nailed down a starting spot since arriving from Standard Liege, while former Everton forward Henry Onyekuru made his full debut at Al Hilal.

Anthony Nwakaeme is one of the notable omissions from the squad currently as the Nigerian remains out injured.

Al Hazem's most eye-catching addition over the summer has been Tunisian international goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, who has joined from Sfaxien.

Bruno Viana made his debut off the bench in defence late on in the defeat against Al Ettifaq after arriving on loan from Coritiba.

Saudi Arabia is the fifth country Viana has played in since 2021, after turning out for sides in Portugal, Brazil, Russia and China.

Al Fayha possible starting lineup:

Stojkovic; Al Safari, Al Baqawi, Al Rashidi, Al Shuwaish, Al Qaydhi; Mandash, Cimirot, Victor Ruiz, Onyekuru; Sakala

Al Hazem possible starting lineup:

Dahmen; Al Bakr, Paulo Ricardo, Bruno Viana, Al Dakheel, Al Otaibi; Al Sayyali, Al Mhemaid, Toze; Vina, Al Shammari

We say: Al Fayha 2-0 Al Hazem

Not much separated the sides the last time they met in the top flight during 2021-22, with a win apiece in their league encounters.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.