Could the champion have problems? Al-Hilal vs Damac Prediction
Damac FC
One of the fixtures in the second round of the Saudi Pro League will be held on Wednesday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, where Al-Hilal will host Damac. Here’s a prediction for the match from the Dailysports expert team.
Al-Hilal
Under the guidance of Jorge Jesus, Al-Hilal showcased remarkable consistency, securing the championship title well before the end of the season. The "Leaders" finished a substantial 14 points ahead of their closest rival, Al-Nassr. In addition to their domestic triumph, the team made a strong run to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.
The end of the previous season was also notable for Jesus’s team as they defeated Al-Nassr in the King's Cup final via a penalty shootout. Early in the new season, Al-Hilal won the Saudi Arabian Super Cup, defeating Al-Ahli on penalties in the semi-finals and then thrashing Al-Nassr 4-1 in the final. In their opening match of the new season, Al-Hilal comfortably won 3-0 against Al-Ahdel.
Damac
Damac, under the management of Cosmin Contra, ended the last season in a solid 10th place, ensuring a comfortable distance from the relegation zone. They secured only 10 wins from 34 matches and failed to win any of their last six games of the season.
In preparation for the new season, Damac had mixed results in five friendlies. They recorded victories against Rassayec (3-2), Dravoy (1-0), and Al-Bataeh (3-1), with their only defeat coming against Ittihad Kalba, where they lost 1-2 at home. In their opening match of the season, Damac lost 0-1 at home to Al-Khalij.
Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History
- Last season, Al-Hilal drew 1-1 away at Damac but won 2-1 at home.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet has hit in 4 of the last 5 matches involving Damac.
- The "Over 2.5 Goals" bet has hit in 3 of the last 5 matches involving Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal vs Damac Prediction
Al-Hilal is the clear favorite for this match, with bookmakers offering a modest 1.16 for their victory. However, Damac is not as straightforward as they might seem, as indicated by their performance last season. A more balanced approach might be to bet on "Total Under 4.0 Goals" at odds of 1.62.
