An interesting-looking friendly clash awaits on Tuesday evening when Saudi Arabia face off against Mali in at Estadio Municipal de Portimao in Portugal.

Saudi Arabia have been taking part in a number of friendlies since their Gulf Cup exit in January, while Mali are preparing for their upcoming World Cup qualification campaign.

Match preview

Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini on September 8, 2023 © Reuters

Since a 2-1 loss to Mexico during the final group-stage match of their 2022 World Cup campaign, Saudi Arabia have endured a tricky run of results across several environments, winning just one of their last eight games.

Roberto Mancini's side did well to stop a rot of a six-match losing streak last time out by sharing the spoils with Nigeria in Portimao on Friday night, with Salam Al-Faraj and Mohamed Kanno netting in the second half to secure a decent result.

Following their shock exit from the Gulf Cup in the group stages in January, Saudi Arabia have lost four out of five friendly contests, including defeats to Venezuela, Costa Rica, Bolivia and South Korea.

Former Manchester City boss Mancini has experience of triumphing in major tournaments on the international stage, winning Euro 2020 with Italy, although the Azzurri did famously go on to fail to qualify for last year's World Cup in Qatar.

Unlike their opponents on Tuesday, Mali are enjoying a good run of form, extending their winning streak to three matches across all competitions earlier in this international break by narrowly defeating Uganda.

Qualification for next year's Africa Cup of Nations has gone swimmingly so far for Eric Chelle's men, with the 49th-ranked national comfortably finishing top of their preliminary group ahead of Gambia, Congo and bottom side South Sudan.

Mali possess some familiar names for those interested in the English game, with Cheick Doucoure and Adama Traore of Crystal Palace and Hull City respectively regularly turning out for their nation.

Frenchman Chelle is experiencing his first foray into international management, with the 45-year-old spending the entirety of his coaching career in the lower divisions of France before taking the Mali job in May 2022.

Saudi Arabia friendly form:

Saudi Arabia form (all competitions):

Mali friendly form:

Mali form (all competitions):

Team News

Saudi Arabia have had a host of unavailable players to work around during this month's international break, including Al Ahli midfielder Abdullah Otayf, who suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury in September.

Abdullah Madu is back in training for his club side Al Nassr, but the 30-year-old is not expected to play a part for his national side on Tuesday evening.

Mali will be missing a promising youngster in attack in this clash, with Atalanta BC man El Bilal Toure sidelined due to a tendon issue picked up in the middle of August.

Former Newcastle United player Massadio Haidara has been a regular for Mali since switching allegiance from the French youth teams, but the left-back is currently out of action because of a thigh strain.

Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:
Owais; Tambakti, Amri, Al-Boleahi, Dawsari; Al-Ghamdi, Alkhaibari, Hazzazi; Al-Muwallad, Hamddan, Al-Buraikan

Mali possible starting lineup:
Diarra; H Traore, Sacko, Niakate, Dante; Dieng, Camara, Samassekou; A Traore, Doumbia, Kone

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We say: Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mali

Saudi Arabia ground out a respectable result against Nigeria last time out and will therefore be confident of repeating the trick or better on Tuesday.

Mali have been in sensational form of late and will be primed to record another noticeable success against Saudi Arabia in Portimao.

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Top tip

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