Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Saudi Pro League match.
Al-Ittihad have made an inconsistent start to the new campaign and continue to struggle. Their next challenge comes against an Al-Hilal side unbeaten in nine consecutive matches across all competitions.
Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad are finding it difficult to build momentum. A 1:1 draw with Al-Fayha followed a 0:2 defeat to Al-Nassr, and the team’s attacking output has noticeably declined without Karim Benzema and Moussa Diaby. In their most recent league outing, they generated 2.16 xG but failed to make it count, underlining their lack of efficiency. Defensively, Al-Ittihad have conceded seven times in five league matches, including goals against lower-ranked sides like Al-Fateh and Al-Okhdood. Their 4:1 win over Al-Shorta in the AFC Champions League briefly lifted spirits, but back-to-back domestic setbacks have exposed familiar weaknesses.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have been relentless, remaining unbeaten this season with seven wins and two draws in all competitions. Their stalemates with Al-Ahli (3:3) and Al-Qadsiah (2:2) highlighted defensive lapses that have since been corrected. The Riyadh giants demolished Al-Ettifaq (5:0) in their last league fixture and followed up with a confident 3:1 victory over Al-Sadd in Asia. Al-Hilal’s attack remains devastating, averaging three goals per match. The trio of Darwin Núñez, Malcom Oliveira and Marcos Leonardo have been in blistering form, combining for 10 goals in the last five league games.
Al-Ittihad vs Al-Hilal Prediction
Al-Hilal are simply on another level at the moment. Their balance, attacking depth and consistency make them clear favourites against an Al-Ittihad side still lacking rhythm and confidence. The visitors should extend their unbeaten run with another convincing performance.
