Preview: Al Khaleej vs. Al-Ahli - prediction, team news, lineups

Roberto Firmino netted a hat-trick as Al-Ahli kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Al Hazem, while Al Khaleej lost to Al Fayah by the same scoreline on the opening weekend.

Match preview

Despite racking up 16 shots while enjoying 67% possession in their first match of the season, Al Khaleej failed to make the most of their dominance against Al Fayah, who inflicted a 3-1 defeat on the Saihat outfit.

Ex-Rangers forward Fashion Sakala was among the scorers for the hosts, while Hisham Al Dubais came off the bench to bag a late consolation goal for the visitors, but Al Khaleej left it far too late to inspire a comeback.

It is worth remembering that Al Khaleej narrowly avoided relegation last term, finishing just one place and three points clear of the drop zone after losing 17 of their 30 matches in 2022-23.

Managed by former Porto defender Pedro Emanuel, Al Khaleej do not possess the big-name stars that many of their rivals boast, so the team from Saihat could be set for another difficult campaign in the Saudi Pro League.

By contrast, Al-Ahli's squad is littered with high-profile players, including Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessie, Edouard Mendy, Allan Saint-Maximin, Roger Ibanez and Roberto Firmino.

On the opening weekend of the season, ex-Liverpool forward Firmino scored all three goals as the Jeddah club secured a 3-1 victory over Al Hazem, with the Brazilian wasting no time in announcing himself to the league.

The 2015-16 Saudi Pro League champions suffered a shock relegation in 2021-22, but they made a swift return to the top flight last term, losing just four of their 34 matches en route to clinching the second-tier title.

Managed by former Red Bull Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle - who guided his previous club to successive Austrian Bundesliga titles - Al-Ahli are expected to be there or thereabouts when the title race heats up towards the end of the campaign.

Al Khaleej Saudi Pro League form:

L

Al Khaleej form (all competitions):

Al-Ahli Saudi Pro League form:

W

Al-Ahli form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

Al Khaleej are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation on Thursday, with 30-year-old forward Abdulla Al Salem leading the line for the hosts.

Portuguese pair Fabio Martins and Ivo Rodrigues will offer attacking support to the lone striker, while South Korea international Jung Woo-young will anchor the midfield.

As for Al-Ahli, Jaissle will likely make limited changes to the XI that started last weekend's victory over Al Hazem, meaning that Firmino, Mahrez, Saint-Maximin, Kessie, Ibanez and Mendy should all feature from the off.

Ex-Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski is expected to start at left-back for the visitors, while Saud Arabia international Ali Majrashi will operate at right-back.

Al Khaleej possible starting lineup:

Sehic; Al-Owdah, Al-Shanqiti, Lopez, Rebocho; Jung, Al-Sumairi; Al Abdan, Rodrigues, Martins; Al Salem

Al-Ahli possible starting lineup:

Mendy; Majrashi, Ibanez, Hindi, Alioski; Aljohani, Kessie; Mahrez, Boudebouz, Saint-Maximin; Firmino

We say: Al Khaleej 0-2 Al-Ahli

Previews by email