Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Saudi Pro League match.
The Riyadh derby between Al Nassr and Al Hilal is set to be the headline fixture of the upcoming round in the Saudi Arabian Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo will be eager to exact revenge on the reigning champions, who have been bolstered by the return of Neymar Jr. This clash between two global football icons is sure to capture worldwide attention.
Al-Nassr
Al Nassr approach this challenging contest against the Premier League leaders in a weakened state. Over the past week, the team shared points with Al-Kholood (3:3), conceding eight shots on target, and subsequently were eliminated from the King's Cup in a 1:0 defeat to Al-Taawoun. In the latter match, Ronaldo let his teammates down by failing to convert a penalty in the final stages. While the coaching staff appear to have adapted to Saudi football, the former AC Milan manager clearly needs reinforcements to contend for titles.
Al-Hilal Riyadh
As for Al Hilal, the defending champions remain unbeaten in this campaign, notching victories in all 15 games of the season. In the AFC Champions League clash against Al Ain (5:4), Neymar made his return after a year-long absence. In their most recent league outing against Al-Taawoun (2:0), the team dominated much of the game, with Aleksandar Mitrović scoring once again to become the first player in the league to surpass the 10-goal mark.
Al-Nassr vs Al-Hilal Riyadh Prediction
With Ronaldo in the squad, Al Nassr have never defeated Al Hilal in regulation time across seven meetings, and their August Super Cup encounter resulted in a heavy loss for the Portuguese star's side (1:4). On Friday, Al Hilal are likely to be closer to clinching victory, given their greater stability and cohesion.
