Preview: Al Ittihad vs. Al Tai - prediction, team news, lineups

The Knight of The North will journey to the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium looking to get one over the home sides, having lost both home and away meetings between the teams last season.

Match preview

Al-Ittihad got the new Professional League campaign off to a flyer as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Al-Raed in last Monday's opener at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

Following a drab first half, Abderrazak Hamdallah broke the deadlock in the 58th minute to put the visitors ahead before Igor Coronado struck a seven-minute brace to cap off a super individual performance.

This followed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Hilal on August 5 which saw their dreams of clinching a first Arab Club Champions Cup title since 2005 come to an end in the quarter-finals.

The Tigers enjoyed a perfect group-stage run as they picked up nine points from their three games to finish top of Group A before losing out to Al-Hilal courtesy of goals from Serge Milinkovic-Savic, Salem Al-Dawsari and Brazilian forward Malcom.

With Monday's result, Nuno Espirito Santo's side have now won five of their last six Professional League matches, with May's 2-2 draw at Al-Hilal being the exception, and are unbeaten in 19 of their last 21 league matches since the turn of the year.

Al Tai, like this weekend's hosts, kicked off the new top-flight campaign on a winning note as they edged out Damac FC 1-0 when the sides squared off last Saturday.

In a cagey affair at the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium, 26-year-old midfielder Abdulaziz Al Harabi came up clutch for the hosts as he netted a 79th-minute winner to condemn Danac to an opening-day defeat.

Prior to that, Kresimir Rezic's men were involved in three friendly matches during preseason, losing successive games against Mura and AEK Larnaca before claiming a 2-1 victory over Al-Ittihad Kalba on July 27.

Consequently, last weekend's result ended Al Tai's run of five consecutive Professional League defeats after they had lost each of their final five league games last season to finish ninth in the standings.

While the Knight of The North will be looking to pick up where they dropped off last time out, they have struggled for results away from home, where they are currently on a five-game losing streak and have picked up just one win in 11 matches this year.

Al Ittihad Saudi Pro League form:

W

Al Ittihad form (all competitions):

Al Tai Saudi Pro League form:

W

Al Tai form (all competitions):

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Team News

Following his side's dominant opening-day display, Espirito Santo could name an unchanged XI here, meaning we could see a back four of Ahmed Bamasud, Ahmed Sharahili, Muhannad Alshanqeeti and Madallah Al-Olayan, with Marcelo Grohe in goal.

Big-name arrivals Fabinho and former Chelsea man N'Golo Kante teamed up at the centre of the park last weekend and should retain their roles in the hosts' XI.

After assisting Hamdallah's opener last time out, Karim Benzema now has five goal involvements in his five games for Al-Ittihad since joining from Real Madrid and the 35-year-old should spearhead the attack once again.

Like the hosts, Al Tai head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Rezic the luxury of a full strength squad at his disposal.

Off the back of an eye-catching cameo, Al Harabi could be rewarded with a place in the visitors' XI, which would see 27-year-old Tariq Mohammed sweat over his place in midfield.

Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:

Grohe; Bamasud, Sharahili, Alshanqeeti, Al-Olayan; Fabinho, Kante; Hamdallah, Romarinho, Coronado; Benzema

Al Tai possible starting lineup:

Braga; Alnakhli, Bauer, Roco, Qasim; Senedo, Mensah, Al Harabi; Asiri, Shamlan, Misidjan

We say: Al Ittihad 2-0 Al Tai

Al-Ittihad have flown out of the blocks this season and will be looking to continue from where they dropped off last Monday. Al Tai's current form on the road is nothing to write home about and we are backing Espirito Santo's men to extend their recent dominance in this fixture.

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