Al Ittihad is set to host Al Shabab at King Abdullah Sports City this Wednesday for a crucial Saudi Pro League match. Both teams have significant stakes in this game, with Al Ittihad aiming to maintain their position at the top of the league and Al Shabab seeking to climb into the Champions League qualification spots.
Al Ittihad is currently tied on points with league leaders Al Hilal, trailing only on goal difference. They are having a strong season under head coach Laurent Blanc, who took over in July last year. The team has shown impressive form, with only three defeats in their last 18 matches across all competitions. Their home form is particularly strong, having won all 10 games at home this season. They are the second-best offensive side in the league, with 37 goals scored, and possess one of the strongest defenses, conceding only 11 goals.
Al Shabab, on the other hand, is currently sixth in the league with 26 points. They have a new head coach, Fatih Terim, who was appointed in late December. Under Terim, the team has shown signs of improvement with two wins in their last three games. However, their away form has been a mixed bag. While they have conceded the joint-fewest away goals (5), they face a tough test against Al Ittihad’s formidable home attack.
Team News
Al Ittihad has a few injury concerns. Ahmed Mohammed Sharahili, Moussa Diaby, and Saleh Al Shehri are all listed as injured. However, captain Karim Benzema will lead the attack as he aims to improve his tally in the league’s top scorer chart. He is currently the joint-second top scorer with 11 goals.
Al Shabab also has some players doubtful due to injuries, including Fahad Al Muwallad, Musab Al Juwayr, and Yannick Carrasco. Seung-Gyu Kim is ruled out for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury. Abderrazak Hamdallah, the third-highest goal scorer in the league’s history, is expected to start. Goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf is closing in on the all-time clean sheet record.
Possible Lineups
Al Ittihad: Rajkovic; Al Shanqeeti, Pereira, Kadesh, Mitaj; Kante, Fabinho; Al-Oboud, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema
Al Shabab: Al-Mayouf; Al-Thanii, Al-Sharari, Hoedt, Renan; Bonaventura, Aljuwayri, Guanca, Podence, Camara, Hamdallah
Match Analysis
Al Ittihad are entering this match with a 15-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. They have won all 10 of their home games this season. Although Al Shabab won both legs of their encounter last season, Al Ittihad’s form makes them favorites for this match. Al Ittihad’s consistent performance and strong home record are likely to give them the edge in this upcoming game against Al Shabab.
Prediction: Al Ittihad 3-1 Al Shabab
Sources:
https://www.mykhel.com/football/al-ittihad-2-1-al-shabab-benzema-scores-in-victory-011-335637.html
https://www.fotmob.com/ko/news/1ilsb2l6iy3q31uiwkz2q6oza4-al-ittihad-2-1-al-shabab-benzema-target-hosts-go-level-leaders
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/al-ittihad/preview/preview-al-ittihad-vs-al-shabab-prediction-team-news-lineups_563477.html