Over the summer, AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli trimmed their squad, making only one headline addition in promising Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot. We do not expect the team to face many problems against Al-Hazem, who spent last season in the second tier.
Al-Hazem
Al-Hazem earned their first win of the season in midweek, beating NEOM (2:1) in the King Cup. In the Saudi Pro League they have scored only once across 270 minutes of football. Matches against Damac (1:1), Al-Shabab (0:1) and Al-Fateh (0:0) yielded only two points, and the cushion to the relegation zone is minimal. We reckon the team will quickly settle among the strugglers; Al-Hazem lack the options to compete for a top-12 finish.
Al-Ahli
Al-Ahli have also stuttered early, taking five points from the first three Saudi Pro League matchweeks. Last Friday the team showed character in a 3:3 draw with Al-Hilal, having come from 0:3 down. The key attacking axis features Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney; they combined for two goals and two assists in the last round. On Tuesday the team played in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, losing 1:3 to Pyramids, which should sharpen their focus for domestic duty.
Al-Hazem vs Al-Ahli Prediction
In 2023/24 Al-Hazem failed to take a point off Al-Ahli (1:3 and 0:4). We’re backing Al-Ahli Saudi to win with a -1.5 handicap — their attack should decide this early.
