Preview: Damac vs. Al Ettifaq - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are on 31 points after 21 league matches while the visitors have 28 points from the same number of games.

Match preview

Damac's winless run stretched to three games after a 1-1 draw with Al Fateh at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium last Friday.

The Knights of the South fell behind in the 55th minute after Sofiane Bendebka found the net for Fateh but Georges-Kevin N'Koudou restored parity in the 65th minute.

Cosmin Contra's side climbed up the table after a five-match winning run between late November to December, but they have since failed to win a league game, losing to Al Riyadh and Al Shabab before last weekend's draw to sit sixth on the table.

Next in line is a home fixture against an opposition that has had the better of them in the last encounters.

However, since losing the first two times they played host to Ettifaq, Damac are unbeaten at home against them, picking up one win and three draws.

After failing to record victory in nine competitive games dating back to late October, the Al Ettifaq resumed league action for the year with a 2-0 victory over Al Khaleej.

However, they could not maintain the momentum, losing 2-0 to league leaders Al Hilal last time out in their second league game of the year.

Despite picking up just eight points in their last 10 league games, the Knights of Ad-Dahna are in eighth place, having a comfortable ten-point gap between them and the teams in the relegation zone.

Ettifaq's biggest issue this season has been in front of goal, with their 24 goals scored so far giving them the title of 'weakest attack' among the top ten sides.

However, only two sides, Al Hilal (10) and Al-Ahli (23), have conceded fewer goals than Ettifaq in the league this season.

Steven Gerrard will hope his team's defence will be enough to push them to another victory over Damac this weekend, having beaten the Knights of the South six times in their 12 meetings.

Damac Saudi Pro League form:

W

W

W

L

L

D

Al Ettifaq Saudi Pro League form:

D

L

L

D

W

L

Team News

Damac have a clean bill of health, leaving them with several options ahead of this clash.

A front three of N'Koudou, Ahmad Al-Zain and Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani is expected to start once again on Saturday.

Like the hosts, Al Ettifaq have no injury concerns to report, leaving Gerrard with many options to choose from for this clash.

Moussa Dembele currently leads the side with seven goals this season and should spearhead the attack with the assistance of former Leicester winger Demarai Gray and Cameroonian international Karl Toko Ekambi.

Seko Fofana, on loan from Al Nassr, should be part of a midfield three that includes former Liverpool man Georginio Wijnaldum and Alvaro Medran.

Damac possible starting lineup:

Zeghba; Solan, Al-Rashidi, Bedrane, Al Anazi; Hamed, Antolic, Stanciu; Zain, Al-Shahrani, N'Koudou

Al Ettifaq possible starting lineup:

Victor; Yousef, Hendry, Madu, Al Shamrani; Fofana, Medran, Wijnaldum; Ekambi, Dembele, Gray

We say: Damac 1-1 Al Ettifaq

Al Ettifaq have dominated this fixture in recent times, but they are struggling to win games at the moment. It remains to be seen if last weekend's defeat was just a one-off but we think the best they can get here is a draw.

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