Preview: Al Raed vs. Al Riyadh - prediction, team news, lineups

Yannick Ferrera's men, on the other hand, journey to the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium undefeated in each of their last 12 away matches and will be looking to extend this impressive run.

Match preview

Al Raed were left empty handed once again in the new Saudi Professional League campaign as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Al-Hilal last Thursday.

Newly-signed striker Aleksandar Mitrovic announced his arrival in style as he opened the scoring in the 42nd minute before a second-half brace from Salem Al-Dawsari and Abdullah Al-Hamdan's 89th-minute strike capped off a superb team performance.

Igor Jovicevic's men are currently on a run of three defeats in their opening three matches this season and have lost each of their last five across all competitions, stretching back to a goalless draw against Al-Khaleej on May 27.

Al Raed's last win came on May 15, when they hammered Damac 5-0 at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium courtesy of a hat-trick from 31-year-old Mohamed Fouzair and Karim El Berkaoui's brace.

The Raed Al Tahadi's slow start to the season has been owing to their struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where they are the only side yet to find the back of the net in the first three matches.

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Al Riyadh were condemned to their first defeat of the season last Thursday when they were thrashed 4-0 by a rampant Al-Ittihad side.

In a one-sided affair at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, goals from Karim Benzema, Saleh Al-Amri and a first-half brace from Moroccan international Abderrazak Hamdallah helped the Tigers maintain their 100% start to the season.

Prior to that, Ferrera's men marked their return to the top flight with a 1-0 victory over Al-Wehda in the league opener on August 13, four days before playing out a somewhat disappointing 2-2 draw with Damac.

Al Riyadh ended their 17-year absence from the Professional League last season, when they picked up 19 wins and six draws in their 34 matches in the second tier to collect 63 points and finish fourth in the standings.

The Riyadh-based outfit head into Monday's clash unbeaten in each of their last 12 away matches across all competitions, claiming 10 wins and two draws since a 2-1 loss at Al Hazem back in October.

Al Raed Saudi Pro League form:

L

L

L

Al Riyadh Saudi Pro League form:

W

D

L

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Team News

Al Raed will take to the pitch without summer signing Oumar Gonzalez, who will serve a one-match suspension after picking up a red card in Thursday's defeat against Al-Hilal.

In his absence, Mubarak Al Rajeh could come into the fold, forming the back four with Bander Whaeshi, Abdullah Al-Fahad and Khalid Alsubaie, with former Atletico Madrid man Andre Moreira in goal.

The hosts recently completed the signing of Mathias Normann and the former Norwich City midfielder could be handed his debut, potentially teaming up with Mansour Al Bishi and Porto loanee Mamadou Loum at the centre of the park.

Like Monday's hosts, Al Riyadh head into the game with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Ferrera the luxury of a full strength squad at his disposal.

Having started off the bench in the midweek loss to Al-Ittihad, Saleh Al Abbas could return to the starting side, which will see former Real Betis forward Juanmi sweat over his role in the XI.

Abbas has been involved in each of Al Riyadh's three goals this season and should form the front three with Ali Al-Zaqan and Knowledge Musona, while Birama Toure, Abdulelah Al Khaibari and Didier N'Dong should retain their roles in midfield.

Al Raed possible starting lineup:

Moreira; Whaeshi, Al-Fahad, Al Rajeh, Alsubaie; Al-Dosari, Al Bishi, Loum, Sunbul; Saayoud, Tavares

Al Riyadh possible starting lineup:

Campana; Alnwaiqi, Asiri, Arslanagic, Tosca; Al Zaqan, Ndong, Toure, Al Khaibari; Al Abbas, Musona

We say: Al Raed 0-1 Al Riyadh

While there was little Al Riyadh could do to stop a star-studded Al-Ittihad side last Thursday, they will be backing themselves to bounce back against a floundering Al Raed side who have lost their last five matches across all competitions. We predict a cagey affair at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium with the visitors coming away with a narrow victory.

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