The final match in gameweek four of the Saudi Pro League will see Al-Hilal taking on Al Ittihad at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in the first Saudi El Clasico of the new season.
An opportunity to take the lead in the league table is up for grabs when these two Riyadh giants collide, as they both enter this weekend locked on nine points apiece after the first three games.
Match preview
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After blowing away the opposition for the title with a memorable unbeaten league campaign last season, Al-Hilal have shot out the blocks again this term, and look as though it is going to take an unbelievable effort for anyone to stop them going back-to-back.
The Blue Waves have already earned their first piece of silverware in 2024-25, beating Al-Nassr 4-1 to the Super Cup title and have rattled off four wins in a row since then, including a 3-1 win over Al Rayyan in the opening round of the AFC Champions League in midweek.
In the league competition, Jorge Jesus's side have beaten Al Okhdood, Damac and Al Riyadh, scoring three goals in each game, setting them well on their way to chasing down their world record 34-game winning streak earned last season.
At home, Al-Hilal are on a 24-match winning streak and scored two or more goals in all but one of those games, while they have not suffered a league defeat at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium since March 6 last year.
Last season, the hosts got the better of their upcoming opponent a total of six times across all competitions, extending their winning record against them to seven in a row, and their unbeaten run to 12.
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However, Al Ittihad look like a much-improved side this season compared to last when they slumped to a fifth-placed finish in the league standings and ended a whopping 42 points behind their El Clasico rivals.
Nadi Al-Sha'ab's poor performance last term led to the dismissal of Marcelo Gallardo over the summer with Laurent Blanc appointed as the Argentine's successor, and the Frenchman has lead his side to three wins on the bounce and to the top of the table.
Blanc's side took the lead in the league standings last week, when they completely obliterated Al Wehda at home 7-1, with Karim Benzema bagging a hat-trick - his second since arriving in the Middle East.
The former Real Madrid striker also found the net in the seven-goal thriller between these sides in the first league encounter last season and will need to maintain his early form throughout this season if Al Ittihad are to challenge for the title.
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Team News
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Jesus has a full squad at his disposal barring Brazilian star Neymar, who is reportedly less that two months away from making a return from the cruciate ligament tear he sustained almost a year ago.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is already atop the leading goalscorer standings in the top flight this season with six goals in three games, scoring two goals in each of those matches.
Blanc will be missing at least three players for El Clasico, including long-term absentees Ahmed Sharahili and Ahmed Bamasud, while Luiz Felipe is set to sit out a third consecutive match with a thigh injury.
In Felipe's absence, Danilo Pereira is likely to continue in central defence alongside Saad Al Mousa, with Fabinho and N'Golo Kante providing defensive cover as the deepest-lying midfielders.
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Al-Yami, Koulibaly, Al Bulaihi, Lodi; Milinkovic-Savic, Neves; Al-Qahtani, Alhamddan, Al-Dawsari; Mitrovic
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Al Yami, Al Mouse, Pereira, Kadesh; Kante, Fabinho; Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema
We say: Al-Hilal 3-2 Al Ittihad
While Al Ittihad will be brimming with confidence after that commanding win over Al Wehda last week, they are now set for their toughest test of the season against the defending champions, who have been just as impressive over the early stages of the campaign.
This one could easily end in another goal-fest, but it is difficult to overlook Al-Hilal's home record, so we are going with the hosts to secure the points in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
