Desperately hoping to keep their chances of a top-three finish alive at the conclusion of this season, Al Ittihad will welcome Al Shabab for a Saudi Pro League clash on Friday night.
The hosts came on out on top of a five-goal thriller last time out to claim a much-needed three points, whilst Al Shabab put in a five-star performance on home soil.
Match preview
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Following a highly-disappointing 4-1 Super Cup defeat to Saudi giants Al Hilal on April 11, Al Ittihad returned to Pro League action on Saturday and managed to collect a vital maximum, defeating Al Hazem at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
After a Saleh Al Jamaan opener and an own goal from Paulo Ricardo, Al Ittihad were pegged level due to strikes from Mohammed Al-Thani and Toze for Hazem, but it was the visitors who managed the last laugh in the end, with an own goal from Aymen Dahmen securing three points for Ittihad.
Following the collection of four points from their last three Pro League matches, Marcelo Gallardo's men currently occupy fourth position in the league standings with just six matches remaining of the 2023-24 term, sitting two points behind third-placed Al Ahli.
Since his high-profile switch from 14-time European champions Real Madrid, Karim Benzema has failed to hit the heights expected of him in the Middle East, finding the net on just nine occasions in 21 Pro League appearances, although the Frenchman has provided a respectable tally of seven assists.
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Al Shabab extended their promising unbeaten run in the Pro League to three matches last Thursday, when Abha were the visitors and were subsequently hit for five at Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh, where a player familiar to fans of the Belgium national team put in an exceptional display.
Former Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco bagged a goal either side of the half-time whistle during Shabab's most-recent success, whilst Carlos also managed to score a brace, with Habibou Diallo also getting onto the scoresheet versus relegation-threatened Abha.
Following three straight top-four finishes in the Pro League between 2021 and 2023, Vitor Pereira's men look set for a modest placement in comparison during 2024, with Friday's visitors lying in 11th place, 15 points behind fourth-placed Al Ittihad.
Al Shabab were victorious during the reverse fixture against Al Ittihad at the start of November 2023, when a solitary goal from Brazilian marksman Carlos was enough to seal maximum points.
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Team News
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After playing the entirety of Al Ittihad's defeat to Al Hilal in the Super Cup, N'Golo Kante picked up a muscular issue and remains a doubt for Friday night.
The hosts are also expected to be without the services of midfield enforcer Fabinho, with the former Liverpool man sitting in the medical room for over a month now.
Luiz Felipe is another star who swapped European football for the Pro League in September - the 27-year-old is currently occupying a spot in the medical room.
One-time Champions League winner Ivan Rakitic remains on the sidelines for Al Shabab, with the Croatian yet to play during April due to a hamstring injury.
Al Ettifaq loanee Vitinho has an unspecified injury and will not feature against the AFC Champions League-chasing hosts on Friday night.
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Al Muaiouf; Al Sagour, Hegazy, Al-Mousa, Al Olayan; Romarinho, Kadesh, Al-Shamrani, Al Jamaan; Benzema, Hamadallah
Al Shabab possible starting lineup:
Malayekah; Al Sharari, Santos, Saiss; Al Yami, Sharahilli, Aljuwayr, Al-Harbi, Al-Sadi, Carrasco; Diallo
We say: Al Ittihad 3-0 Al Shabab
Looking to secure a spot in next season's AFC Champions League, Al Ittihad will be highly motivated to secure three points against Al Shabab.
The visitors are marooned in mid-table with little to play for during the remainder of the campaign, meaning that it is set to be an easy evening for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
