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: Damac vs. Al-Hilal - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 September 2023, 05:58
Two sides who have had contrasting starts to the 2023-24 Saudi Professional League campaign lock horns on Thursday as Damac play host to Al-Hilal at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.

The Blue Waves are the only unbeaten side after the first six rounds of matches and sit at the summit of the table while the hosts head into the game in search of their first win of the season.

Match preview

Damac continue to struggle in the new Professional League campaign as they fell to a 4-2 loss against Al-Wehda when the sides met at the King Abdul Aziz Stadium last Thursday.

In a game where Noor Al-Rashidi received his marching orders in the 43rd minute, Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo netted a hat-trick to help the hosts snap their two-match losing streak.

Damac have now failed to win any of their opening six matches this season, losing three and picking up three draws, while they have gone eight straight league matches without a win since May's 1-0 victory over Abha.

Breaching opposing defences has not been a worry for Cosmin Contra's men this season as they have made the net ripple eight times in their opening six matches, with only eight teams scoring more.

However, their slow start to the campaign has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded 13 goals already and failed to keep a clean sheet so far.

While Damac will be looking to get their season up and running on Thursday, they face the stern challenge of taking on a high-flying Al-Hilal side who ate unbeaten in seven of their last eight meetings, claiming five wins and two draws since October 2019.

Elsewhere, Al-Hilal were denied a dream start to the 2023-24 AFC Champions League campaign as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Uzbekistan side Navbahor Namangan at the King Fahd International Stadium on Monday.

Despite dominating the game and seeing over 75% of the ball possession, Al-Hilal needed an equaliser from Ali Al-Boleahi in the 10th minute of stoppage time to cancel out Toma Tabatadze's 52nd-minute opener and force a share of the spoils.

Jorge Jesus's men now turn their attention to the Saudi Professional League, where they have enjoyed a superb start to the season, winning five of their opening six matches.

Al-Hilal have dropped points only once this season, which came on August 19, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Fayha courtesy of goals from Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Fashion Sakala for either side.

With 16 points from a possible 18, the Blue Waves currently lead the way at the top of the Saudi Professional League standings, one point above second-placed Al Ittihad.

Damac Saudi Pro League form:

L

D

D

D

L

L

Al-Hilal Saudi Pro League form:

W

D

W

W

W

W

Al-Hilal form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

Damac will take to the pitch without defender Al-Rashidi, who will serve the first of his three-match suspension after picking up a first-half red card against Al-Wehda last time out.

In his absence, 28-year-old Sultan Faqihi should come into the starting XI, forming the back four with Dhari Al-Enezi, Farouk

Chafai and Alhwsawi Sanousi Mohammed.

While superstar signing Neymar failed to make his mark in his AFC Champions League debut on Monday, we expect him to spearhead the Al-Hilal attack once again.

The former Paris Saint-Germain man, who recently became Brazil's all-time leading scorer, registered an assist on his Saudi Professional League debut against Al Riyadh on September 15 and should team up with Michael, Malcom and Aleksandar Mitrovic in the final third.

On the injury front, Al-Hilal will be without the services of experienced midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki, who has been out of action since January through a cruciate ligament rupture.

Damac possible starting lineup:

Hawswi; Al-Enezi, Chafai, Faqihi, Mohammed; Antolic, Hamed; N'Koudou, Stanciu, Al-Bishi; Ceecay

Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:

Bono; Al Shahrani, Al Bulayhi, Jahfali, Abdulhamid; Neves, Al Dawsari; Neymar, Malcolm, Michael; Mitrovic

We say: Damac 0-3 Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal have flown out of the blocks this season and will be licking their lips as they go up against a floundering Damac side who are yet to pick up a win so far. Given the gulf in quality and depth between the two sides, we are backing the Blue Waves to ease to a comfortable victory in this one.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.