Al Ettifaq vs Al Ittihad – News and Probable Lineups

Al-Ettifaq will aim for consecutive wins as they host Al-Ittihad at the Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium on Thursday evening, with two Saudi Pro League matches left in the season.

The home side enters this match with high spirits following a dominant 5-0 victory over Al Khaleej, while the visitors are just three points ahead in the standings.

Match overview

Under Saad Al-Shehri’s leadership, the team currently sits in seventh place in the Saudi Pro League with 49 points, achieved through 14 wins, seven draws, and 11 losses, scoring 49 goals and conceding 51 throughout the season.

Recent performances have been inconsistent, with two victories, one draw, and two losses in the last five matches across all competitions. However, their latest outing was a remarkable 5-0 win against Al Khaleej, highlighted by a two-goal contribution from Moussa Dembele.

Al-Shehri has demonstrated his team’s adaptability to various match circumstances, and having finished seventh in the previous season, they are eager to maintain or improve this position by the end of the current campaign.

Defensively, Al-Ettifaq has occasionally been exposed, conceding 51 goals this league season, and they will need to tighten up their backline against a strong attacking force.

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad arrives at the match sitting in fifth place with 52 points from 15 wins, seven draws, and nine losses. Under Sergio Conceicao, they have consistently capitalized on quick transitions and exploited opponents’ weaknesses this season.

The visitors boast a total of 49 goals scored and only 39 conceded in the league. In terms of form, they are in good shape, with three wins, one draw, and one defeat from their last five fixtures across all competitions.

Their last match featured a closely contested 2-1 victory over Damac FC, with Abdulaziz Al-Bishi’s goal in second-half stoppage time affirming Al-Ittihad’s ability to secure results under pressure.

On the road, Al-Ittihad has a solid record, recording five wins, six draws, and four losses, instilling confidence as they face a team they surpass in the league by three points.

The recent head-to-head encounters between these teams have been evenly matched, with each club securing two wins from their last five meetings and one game ending in a draw. However, Al-Ettifaq triumphed in the latest clash 1-0, adding to their belief that they can pull off another upset.

With both teams still fighting for their final league positions and only two matches to go, this fixture promises to be fiercely contested and tightly fought.

Team News

Al-Ettifaq comes into this match with no injury or suspension issues, allowing Al-Shehri to choose from a full squad.

Dembele and Georginio Wijnaldum will likely spearhead the attack once more, having combined for three goals in their thrashing of Al Khaleej.

Alvaro Medran, who provided three assists in the last match, is expected to continue in midfield alongside Ondrej Duda, both of whom have been instrumental in their recent successful run.

Jack Hendry and Francisco Calvo are forecasted to maintain their central defensive partnership, with Madallah Al-Olayan and Abdullah Khateeb providing width from the full-back positions.

Al-Ittihad will assess the fitness of several players before the match, as Conceicao is anticipated to field a strong XI for this crucial fixture.

For the visitors, Steven Bergwijn and Youssef En-Nesyri are expected to lead the frontline, with Houssem Aouar playing in the role behind them after scoring in the game against Damac.

Fabinho and Awad Al-Nashri will likely anchor the midfield alongside Moussa Diaby, while Danilo Pereira, Hassan Kadesh, and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti are set to form the defensive unit in front of goalkeeper Rajkovic.

Al Ettifaq probable starting XI:

Rodak; Khateeb, Hendry, Calvo, Olayan; Duda, Medran; Costa, Wijnaldum, Al-Ghannam; Dembele

Al Ittihad probable starting XI:

Rajkovic; Kadesh, Pereira, Al-Shanqeeti; Mitaj, Fabinho, Al-Nashri, Diaby; Gold; Bergwijn, En-Nesyri

Al-Ittihad’s superior defensive statistics, their resilience shown against Damac, and their offensive capability make them slight favorites to secure all three points on Thursday evening.

Al-Ettifaq will certainly be a threat at home, but Conceicao’s team should be able to narrowly prevail in this competitive matchup.