Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Saudi Pro League match.
Al-Raed remain anchored at the bottom of the Saudi Pro League standings, sitting nine points adrift of safety. The squad now face a daunting task as they host one of the league’s top contenders, Al-Hilal. After falling short in the Champions League, the visitors are now fully focused on domestic competition. They currently trail league leaders Al-Ittihad by six points. While a recent managerial change following the dismissal of Jorge Jesus may bring some short-term uncertainty, this fixture against the league’s bottom side comes at an ideal time.
Al-Raed
Al-Raed have suffered 20 defeats in 29 matches this season. At home, Al-Raed are winless in their last nine games. Their biggest weakness lies in their defensive record, as Al-Raed concede an average of 1.9 goals per match. Their recent history against Al-Hilal is particularly bleak — four consecutive defeats, conceding at least three goals in each match.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have lost only four of their last 18 fixtures, all of which came against top-five opponents — Al-Qadisiyah (1:2), Al-Ittihad (1:4), Al-Ahli (2:3), and Al-Nasr (1:3). Against teams outside the top tier, however, they have generally dominated and scored freely. Al-Hilal possess the league’s most prolific attack, having registered 79 goals to date. Their attacking unit — Marcos Leonardo, Aleksandar Mitrović, Sergej Milinković-Savić and Salem Al-Dawsari — have all reached double digits in goals this season.
Al-Raed vs Al-Hilal Prediction
The disparity in quality, momentum and ambition is considerable. Al-Raed are struggling across the board, while Al-Hilal routinely dismantle weaker defences. The visitors have netted at least three goals in each of their recent encounters with Al-Raed, and there is little to suggest a different outcome this time around.
