Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Saudi Pro League match.
Al-Nassr maintained their impressive goal-scoring form despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the team netting a combined total of 10 goals over their last two fixtures. However, for the upcoming encounter against mid-standings Al-Khaleej, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to the starting line-up, aiming to extend his lead in the Golden Boot standings.
Al-Nassr
Another season without silverware continues to raise questions about this period for Al-Nassr, even with the Portuguese legend in the squad. After a 1:1 draw with Al-Taawoun, they slipped out of the top three, overtaken by Al-Qadsiah. Nevertheless, they remain one of the most potent attacking sides in the league, having scored 74 goals over 32 matchdays – a statistic surpassed by only two other teams. Heading into the penultimate round of the season, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the scoring charts by two goals ahead of Karim Benzema and Abderrazak Hamdallah (23+3).
Al-Khaleej
Al-Khaleej returned to winning ways with a 2:1 victory over Al-Orobah, their first since 6 April, halting a five-game winless run consisting of four losses and a draw. They have the leakiest defence among the league’s top ten, having conceded 52 goals. Their away performances remain troubling as well, with seven defeats in 16 games. A visit to Riyadh presents a daunting task for this mid-standings squad.
Al-Nassr vs Al-Khaleej Prediction
Since the start of last season, Al-Nassr have claimed four consecutive wins over Al-Khaleej, scoring six goals across their last two meetings – both of which ended 3:1. We expect the team’s individual Total Over to be covered once again.
