Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Saudi Pro League match.
Even after their defeat to Al Hilal (1:3), Al Ittihad remain the primary challengers to the reigning champions, while Al Ahli have been inconsistent for the second season running. For Matthias Jaissle and his staff, the upcoming match serves as another test of their credentials, one they cannot afford to fail.
Al Ittihad
The current strength of Al Ittihad lies in the successful integration of two newcomers, Houssem Aouar and Moussa Diaby. The former Lyon and AS Roma midfielder is among the league leaders in goal contributions (5+2 in 8 matches), while Karim Benzema, the captain of the team from Jeddah, has scored eight times. Under Laurent Blanc, Al Ittihad played an aggressive attacking game and have won six consecutive matches after their loss to Al Hilal, finding the back of the net 15 times.
Al Ahli
Despite a rocky start to the Premier League, Al Ahli, too, have shown attacking prowess. They have scored 12 goals in 8 games, with only four teams having a better goal tally. In their latest away fixture, the team defeated Al Khaleej (3:0) after a sending-off left their opponents down to ten men. Their star signing, Ivan Toney, consistently creates chances (3+2 in six matches).
Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli Prediction
In the last five rounds of the championship, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli have collectively played in seven games that featured three or more goals. This key clash of the month promises to be an open contest, as these top competitors are unlikely to adopt a defensive approach.
