Al-Hilal will look to continue their incredible Saudi Pro League form when they make the short trip across Riyadh to take on Al Shabab on Saturday evening.
The hosts have broken clear of the chasing pack in the league standings, currently 12 points clear at the summit, while the visitors are in 10th place with 28 points after 24 games.
Match preview
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With just 10 games left to play in the Saudi top flight this term, Al-Hilal are only six wins away from winning back the title that they were forced to give up to Al Ittihad last season.
The Blue Waves have been sensational this season and are the only side in the division that are still unbeaten after 24 gameweeks, boasting an incredible record of 22 wins and just two draws to date.
Jorge Jesus's side are leading the league in almost every significant statistical column, including goals scored (72) and goals against (13). They are also the only side in the top flight that are averaging fewer than one goal conceded per 90 minutes.
Al-Hilal earned a world record this season for the most consecutive wins (28) by a side when they beat Al Ittihad in the quarter-final of the AFC Champions League earlier this month and extended that to 29 in a row after beating Damac 2-1 in their last league match two weeks ago.
On the road this term, the Blue Waves are riding a 13-match winning streak across all competitions, scored two or more goals in 12 of those games and are unbeaten in their last 20 outings.
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In contrast, after ending each of the last three seasons inside the top four places, Al Shabab have experienced a significant drop-off this term, currently holding a modest record of seven wins, seven draws and 10 losses to date.
With 28 points to their name, the White Lions are a whopping 40 points behind their opponents in this match, and while they are not in any immediate danger of relegation, there is still work to do to guarantee safety, with just six points separating them from Al Tai, who are the first side below the dotted line.
Vitor Pereira has delivered a mixed bag of results since arriving at the club during the Asian Cup break, including two wins, one draw and two losses in his first five games in charge, with the most recent of those matches ending in a 3-0 win over Al Hazem a couple of weeks ago.
The new boss is still in search of his first home win, though, following consecutive 3-2 defeats to Al-Nassr and Al Fayha in the last month, but will likely find it tough to achieve that here, against the rampant Blue Waves, who eased to 2-0 win in the reverse fixture last September.
Team News
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Al Shabab are without their first choice goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who sustained a cruciate ligament injury at the Asian Cup and is likely to be out for the remainder of the season.
Abdullah Radif delivered an impressive cameo, scoring off the bench against Al Hazem last time out, and he will be hoping for a starting 11 role in attack this time, alongside club top-scorer Habib Diallo.
Al-Hilal have just a single confirmed absentee for this match in Neymar, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a cruciate ligament tear.
Brazilian Michael scored a crucial stoppage-time winner against Damac last time out and should keep his place in attacking midfield alongside compatriot Malcom and Salem Al-Dawsari.
Aleksandar Mitrovic failed to find the net for Serbia during the international break but is currently on 20 goals for the season for the Blue Waves and should almost certainly lead the line in this one.
Al Shabab possible starting lineup:
Al Absi; Al-Sharari, Santos, Saiss; Al-Yami, Cuellar, Aljuwayr, Carlos; Al-Sadi, Diallo, Vitinho
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Abdulhamid, Koulibaly, Al Bulaihi, Al-Shahrani; Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, Al-Hamdan; Malcolm, Mitrovic, Al-Dawsari
We say: Al Shabab 0-2 Al-Hilal
Al Shabab have fallen a long way this season and need string together a few positive results to pull away from the relegation scrap. Unfortunately for the hosts, though, they are facing an opponent that have taken on all-comers this season and have looked almost unbeaten at times.
Al-Hilal are massive favourites heading into this match and we feel they will claim yet another straightforward victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
