Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 32nd round of the Saudi Pro League will take place on Thursday in the capital, as Al-Riyadh hosts Al-Shabab at home. I’m suggesting a bet on goals in this encounter with an appealing odds value.
Match preview
Al-Riyadh heads into this clash with inconsistent form, having recorded just one win in their last five outings. Interestingly, they managed to snap their winless streak on the road in the previous round. The team traveled to face Al-Khaleej and, after conceding as early as the 6th minute, snatched a 2-1 victory by scoring both goals in stoppage time.
Undoubtedly, such a come-from-behind win should boost the players’ confidence ahead of their home meeting with Al-Shabab. Overall, however, the team’s defense leaves much to be desired, as evidenced by their goal difference (34 scored, 45 conceded). At home, Al-Riyadh can hardly boast a dominant record: 5 wins, 5 draws, and 5 defeats.
Al-Shabab, on the other hand, has shown consistency lately, securing two victories, drawing twice, and suffering just one defeat in their last five fixtures. As things stand, Al-Shabab sits sixth in the Saudi Pro League standings, trailing the top three by nine points.
In the previous round, Al-Shabab delighted their home fans with a 3-1 win. Notably, the team looks solid in away matches too, racking up six wins against five losses. Overall, their attacking prowess (58 goals scored) combined with a sturdy defense makes Al-Shabab the favorite in this matchup.
Probable lineups
- Al-Riyadh: Borjan, Al Khaibari, Al Nuweiki, Barbe, Asiri, Kal, Mensah, Toze, Baesh, Konate
- Al-Shabab: Kim – Al-Thani, Al-Sharari, Khudt, Robert Renan, Al-Sibyani – Guanca, Kanaba, Al-Juwaeir – Kamara, Сarrasco
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, Al-Shabab defeated their rivals at home 2-1
- The "Total over 2.5" bet landed in three out of the last five games
- The "Both teams to score" bet was successful in three of the last five meetings
Prediction
Bookmakers are backing the visitors in this fixture, offering odds of 1.75 for an Al-Shabab victory. Al-Shabab have won four of the last five head-to-heads. We believe the "Al-Shabab win" is the smart pick here.
