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Saudi Pro League | Gameweek 1
Aug 13, 2023 at 7pm UK
Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

Al Riyadh
1 - 0
Al Wahda

Musona (17')
Musona (45+1'), Ali Alnwaiqi (74')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ayidh Al Qahtani (60')

Preview: Al Riyadh vs. Al Wahda - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Saudi Pro League clash between Al Riyadh and Al Wahda, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Al Riyadh and Al Wahda get underway in the 2023 Saudi Pro League season with a meeting at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Sunday evening.

The home side recently gained promotion to the top flight and will be keen to make a winning start against their visitors, who just about survived relegation last time out.


Match preview

With qualification for the Saudi Pro League already secured, Al Riyadh wrapped up life in the second tier with a 1-1 stalemate against Al-Qaisumah at the Al-Batin Club Stadium on May 29.

Yannick Ferrera's men opened the scoring on the stroke of half time through Fahd Al Rashedy after which Hamid Djaouchi restored parity five minutes into the second period.

As a result, the Saudi capital-based side are now unbeaten in three of their last four matches, with a 3-1 defeat against Al-Shoalah the only exception in that time.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost just one of the last eight encounters between the teams, winning six of the other seven.

Having recorded clean sheets in three of their most recent five home matches, Sunday's hosts will be looking to keep things tight at the back en route to another positive result in front of their fans.

Al Wahda were beaten for the second pre-season game running in a 2-0 defeat against Metalac Gornji Milanovac at Stadion Metalac on July 31.

Off the back of an uneventful opening 45 minutes, second-half goals from Bojan Aleksic and Stefan Ilic put Giorgos Donis's men to the sword.

The Knights of Mecca have now been beaten in each of their last three outings by a combined score of 5-0 dating back to last season's closing fixture against Al Fayha.

Currently on a run of two straight defeats on the road, Sunday's visitors now set out to avoid suffering three losses in a row away from home for the first time since October.

Al Riyadh friendly form:
  • D

Al Wahda friendly form:
  • L
  • L


Team News

Knowledge Musona was directly involved in 17 league goals last time out, and the Al Riyadh forward will be aiming to make an instant impact for his new employers.

Having recently completed a move from French lower league side Auxerre, Birama Toure is on course to make his debut for the home side here.

Oscar Duarte is Al Wahda's only guaranteed absentee for this one as he remains sidelined with a shoulder problem which has seen him fail to feature since May.

Twenty-five-year-old Naif Kireiri has recently returned from his loan spell at Al Ahli and could be set for a more prominent role this season.


Al Riyadh possible starting lineup:
Campana; Adnan, Tosca, Asiri, Zaqan; Al Dosari, Toure, Musona; Al-Yami, Al-Abbas, Moath

Al Wahda possible starting lineup:
Atiah; Ahmed, Bukhari, Makki, Kurdi; Akouz, Al-Hejji, Bakshween, Al-Ghamdi; Beauguel, Yoda


SM words green background

We say: Al Riyadh 1-1 Al Wahda

Given their visitors' poor run of form heading into this one, Al Riyadh have a good chance to kick off life in the top flight on a winning note. However, we expect the teams to cancel each other out and make do with a point apiece in the end.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Al Riyadh vs Al Wahda

Al Riyadh
60.0%
Draw
40.0%
Al Wahda
0.0%
5
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Al-HilalAl-Hilal109102781928
2Al Ittihad109012481627
3Al-Nassr1164122101222
4Al ShababAl Shabab11713157822
5Al Quadisiya11713158722
6Al-AhliAl-Ahli11524159617
7Al Khaleej105141212016
8Al-TaawounAl-Taawoun10433119215
9Al Riyadh104241315-214
10Damac103251618-211
11Al RaedAl Raed103251315-211
12Al Ettifaq10325915-611
13Al Orubah10316921-1210
14Al Okhdood112361215-39
15Al Kholood101451219-77
16Al Fayha11146720-137
17Al WahdaAl Wahda101361427-136
18Al Fateh10127818-105


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