Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
As part of the 33rd round of the Saudi Pro League, Al-Wehda will face off against Al-Hilal. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, with kickoff set for 20:00 Central European Time. I'm offering a bet on the winner of this clash.
Match preview
Al-Wehda dropped out of the top division in 2021, but immediately bounced back to the Pro League. Since then, they haven't set the world alight and have consistently hovered near the relegation zone.
This season is following the same pattern for Al-Wehda, and with just two rounds to go, they're at serious risk of dropping down again. They're only two points clear of the drop zone, and their upcoming fixtures against Al-Hilal and Al-Ettifaq hardly promise an easy escape.
One notable name in their squad is former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo, but his output has dropped significantly compared to last season. His six goals this campaign haven't made much of an impact, especially considering he netted 15 last year.
Securing their spot in the Pro League will be a tough ask. Despite a decent attacking record (40 goals scored), the team has major defensive issues. Al-Wehda have conceded a hefty 64 goals, with only Al-Orubah faring worse at the back.
Al-Hilal have officially relinquished their champion status after three years of dominance. The team's performance dipped following a serious injury to their main attacking threat, Aleksandar Mitrović.
Jorge Jesus couldn't hold onto his position and was recently dismissed. Even so, finishing second would still be a solid achievement, and in their next match Al-Hilal can secure the silver medals, with ambitious Al-Qadisiyah still in the hunt.
In the final round, they’ll face Aubameyang’s side, so to avoid a tense head-to-head showdown, the "leaders" must claim all three points against Al-Wehda. Interestingly, three players have already surpassed the 15-goal mark (Mitrović, Marcos Leonardo, and Al-Dawsari), and Al-Hilal are comfortably the league's top-scoring team.
The club is already starting preparations for the Club World Cup, set to kick off in just a month. On American soil, they’ll battle Real Madrid, Salzburg, and Pachuca in the group stage. However, it’s still unclear who will lead the team as head coach for the tournament.
Match facts
- Al-Wehda haven’t drawn in their last nine matches: 6 wins and 3 losses.
- At home in 2025, Al-Wehda have won only two games.
- Al-Hilal have scored 23 goals in their last five matches.
- Al-Hilal are unbeaten away from home for two and a half months.
- Al-Wehda average 1.45 goals per home game, while Al-Hilal average 2.5 goals per away game.
Probable lineups
- Al-Wehda: Al-Rashidi, Al-Muwallad, Makki, Al-Hafith, Al-Salem, Al-Maqazi, Bakshween, Bacuna, Al-Hadji, Noor, Ighalo.
- Al-Hilal: Bono, Al-Bulayhi, Lodi, Al-Dawsari, Koulibaly, Neves, Kanno, Milinković-Savić, Al-Dawsari, Malcom, Mitrović.
H2H
- The last three meetings between these teams have all ended in Al-Hilal victories.
- Al-Wehda haven’t beaten Al-Hilal at home since 2006.
Prediction
Matches involving Al-Hilal are usually high-scoring, so expect plenty of goals here as well. Frankly, the hosts have little chance of a positive result, with the visitors rightfully considered the clear favorites. The difference in class should be evident, and a bet on Al-Hilal to win with a -1.5 goal handicap looks very appealing.
