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 Khaleej vs. Al Hazem - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 August 2023, 22:55
Two sides who could make do with a win face off in round four of the Saudi Professional League as Al Khaleej play host to Al Hazem at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Tuesday.

Having failed to win any of their opening three matches, both sides will head into the midweek clash one looking to find their feet and get their season up and running.

Match preview

Al Khaleej were denied their first win of the new Professional League campaign as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium last Thursday.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the game, Fabio Martins gave the visitors the lead in the 29th minute, but Brazilian forward Vitinha restored parity five minutes after the half-time interval.

Prior to that, Pedro Emanuel's men kicked off the season with two back-to-back defeats, losing 3-1 against Al-Fayha in the league opener on August 12, five days before they were beaten by the same scoreline by Al-Ahli.

The Al-Danah's slow start to the season has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have shipped seven goals already — with only Al-Raed conceding more (8) so far.

Next up for Al Khaleej is an opposing side who have won three of their last four encounters, with a 2-1 loss in the second leg of their relegation playoff clash back in 2019 being the exception.

Like Tuesday's hosts, Al Hazem have endured a sluggish start in their return to the Saudi Arabian top flight as they have managed just one point from the first nine available.

Filipe Gouveia's men won 20 of their 34 matches in the second division last season while claiming eight draws and losing six to collect 68 points and finish third in the table and secure promotion.

However, Al Hazem were given a baptism of fire in the league opener on August 11, when they were beaten 3-1 by Al Ahli, seven days before suffering a 2-0 loss against Al-Ettifaq.

The Hazem Al-Samood responded with a solid defensive performance last Friday when they held their own to play out a goalless draw against Al-Fayha at the King Salman Sport City Stadium.

Al Khaleej Saudi Pro League form:

L

L

D

Al Hazem Saudi Pro League form:

L

L

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

Mohamed Sherif enjoyed an impressive debut against Al-Ettifaq and the former Al-Ahly man, who set up Martins's opener last Thursday, should lead the Al Khaleej attack once again.

He should be joined in the final third by Portuguese forward Martins and 30-year-old Mansour Hamzi, while Woo-Young Jung and Abdulelah should team up at the centre of the park.

At the defensive end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged centre-back pairing of Lisandro Lopez and Mohammed Al Khabrani, while Omar Al-Aowda is a doubt after coming off injured last Thursday.

Despite his penalty miss against Al-Fayha on Friday, Toze should spearhead Al Hazem's attack for the fourth straight game, alongside Yousef Al-Shammari and former Gremio man Vina.

Following last week's solid defensive display, Farhan Al-Azmi, Abdurahman Al-Dakheel, Bruno Viana and Radhi Al-Oteibi should retain their roles in the back four, with Aymen Dahmen starting between the sticks once again.

Al Khaleej possible starting lineup:

Sehic; Rebocho, Lopez, Al-Khabrani, Al-Aowda; Jung, Abdulelah; Martins, Rodrigues, Hazmi; Sherif

Al Hazem possible starting lineup:

Dahmen; Al-Azmi, Al-Dakheel, Viana, Al-Oteibi; Traore, Al-Sayyali, Al-Habashi; Shammari, Vina, Toze

We say: Al Khaleej 1-1 Al Hazem

Al Khaleej and Al Hazem have stumbled into the new Professional League campaign and will head into Tuesday in search of a pick-me-up. Both sides are evenly matched on paper and we predict they will cancel out each other's efforts and settle for a share of the spoils.

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon.