In a highly anticipated fixture in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr is set to face Al Ettifaq at Al Awal Park at King Saud University, aiming to narrow the gap with league leaders Al-Hilal.
Currently positioned second in the standings, Al-Nassr is 10 points adrift of the top spot, making every match crucial in their pursuit of the title.
Match Preview:
Al-Nassr enters this encounter on a positive note, having secured a spot in the King Cup semi-finals with a convincing 5-2 victory over Al-Shabab.
Despite a recent setback against Al-Hilal, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat, Luis Castro’s squad regained momentum in the league with a commanding 4-1 win over Al-Riyadh.
The Knights of Najd, now with 37 points from 12 wins, one draw, and three losses, are keen on maintaining their impressive home form.
They are on a four-match winning streak at Al Awal Park and haven’t tasted defeat at this venue since the second week of the campaign.
However, they approach this fixture with caution after a 2-1 loss to Al Ettifaq in their season opener.
Al Ettifaq, currently in eighth place, faces a tough challenge as they struggle for form, with a winless streak extending to six games.
Steven Gerrard’s side suffered a recent defeat against Al Taawoun but managed a victory against Al-Wehda on the road earlier in the season.
Team News:
In terms of team news, Al-Nassr will be without David Ospina due to injury, with Nawaf Alaqidi expected to continue as the goalkeeper. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer, is set to lead the line once again.
On the other side, Al Ettifaq will miss Brazilian winger Vitinho due to a tendon injury. Moussa Dembele, with seven league goals, is expected to spearhead the attack, while Demarai Gray may return to the starting lineup after serving a suspension.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Al-Nassr: (4-2-3-1)
Alaqidi;
Ghanam, Al-Oujami, Laporte, Ahmed;
Brozovic, Fofana;
Talisca, Otavio, Mane;
Ronaldo
Al Ettifaq: (3-4-3)
Victor;
Khateeb, Tisserand, Hendry;
Al Shamrani, Hazzazi, Henderson, Al-Oteibi;
Wijnaldum, Quaison, Dembele
Predictions: Al-Nassr 3-1 Al Ettifaq
With a formidable home record and a recent winning streak, Al-Nassr is likely to dominate against a struggling Al Ettifaq side.
For Al Ettifaq, facing a dominant side away from home poses a significant challenge, and Steven Gerrard’s team will aim to keep the result respectable in this tough encounter.