Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 33rd round of the Saudi Pro League will take place on Thursday in Najran, where local side Al-Okhdood will host Al-Raed. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash with an enticing odds value.
Match preview
Paulo Sérgio’s squad is in a tough spot but still clings to hope for survival. With 28 points after 33 rounds, Al-Okhdood sit 17th, teetering on the edge of relegation. The team trails the safety line (15th place) by just 4 points. Despite inconsistent form, they’ve looked relatively better than the league’s main underdogs — especially at home, where they’ve picked up most of their points.
The last five outings haven’t been kind to Al-Okhdood: just one win, one draw, and three defeats. Even on home turf, their victories have come only against fellow strugglers. In total, the club has managed just 2 wins in 16 home matches, suffering 10 defeats.
For Al-Raed, meanwhile, the season has been nothing short of disastrous: rock-bottom in the table with just 21 points from 33 matches. The team has lost 23 games — more than any other side in the league — and their 63 goals conceded highlight chronic defensive issues.
In their last five matches, Al-Raed have picked up only one win and suffered four defeats, including a 1-3 loss to Al-Ittihad in the previous round. The team looks demoralized, and coach Krešimir’s constant tactical changes seem to do more harm than good.
Probable lineups
- Al-Okhdood: Vitor E. (GK), Khamis A., Al-Rubaie S. (C), Low D., Al-Qaidi M., Pedrosa J., Asiri N., Bassogog C., Musona N., Saviour G., Pato
- Al-Raed: Sunjur – Hazazi, Abed, Gonzalez – Al-Khawsawi, Normann, Bouzouk, Al-Dossari – Al-Amri, Twe – El-Berkaoui
Match facts and head-to-head
- Al-Raed have lost two of their last three encounters with Al-Okhdood, including their most recent head-to-head (0-2)
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet has come through in two of the last three matches
- Both teams have scored in two of the last three meetings
Prediction
Both teams are locked in a desperate relegation fight, but recent form and head-to-head stats favor Al-Okhdood. The hosts appear more focused — even if inconsistent — and have the psychological edge with home support behind them. Our pick: Al-Okhdood to win at odds of 1.73.
