Al-Nassr return to Al-Awwal Park on Sunday night with the arrogance of a facet that has forgotten what it feels prefer to drop factors.
Softfootball understands that Jorge Jesus’s males have been flawless within the Saudi Professional League to date, profitable all eight of their matches and sitting comfortably on the prime of the desk with a outstanding +22 purpose distinction. Twenty-six objectives scored, solely 4 conceded; the numbers communicate for themselves.
Their dominance has been much more pronounced at house, the place they’ve swept apart each group that has visited Riyadh this season. Other than a 2-1 blip within the King’s Cup towards Al Ittihad, Al-Nassr have appeared virtually untouchable.
They reacted to that defeat in probably the most convincing approach potential, profitable 4 of their subsequent 5 matches, together with a composed 3-1 victory away at Neom SC.
In addition they noticed out FC Goa 4-nil within the recreation earlier than that, and with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman and Marcelo Brozovic all in robust rhythm, the league leaders come into this recreation with the sort of attacking depth that provides opponents sleepless nights.
Al Khaleej arrive in Riyadh with beliefs of their very own. Georgios Donis has guided his group to sixth place, accumulating 14 factors from their opening eight league video games.
They’ve proven they will rating, 21 objectives already, however the flipside has been their vulnerability on the again. Conceding 11 objectives and failing to maintain a clear sheet of their final six outings spotlight precisely the place their problem lies.
Al Nassr posted a video of the group arriving on the facility simply earlier than coaching began by way of the group’s official X deal with.
Watch the video beneath:
Even so, their current kind has been spectacular. A commanding 4-1 win away at Al Hazm final week confirmed their sharpness within the remaining third, even with a purple card complicating the evening.
Their away outcomes this season have been combined, however they haven’t lacked braveness or ambition each time they’ve travelled. What they’ve lacked, nonetheless, is success towards Al-Nassr, a group that has overwhelmed them in every of their final 5 conferences.
Workforce Information
Al-Nassr might need to manage with out Inigo Martinez and Saad Haqawi, each battling muscle points, whereas Saad Al Nasser stays sidelined. Joao Felix, the league’s present prime scorer with 10 objectives, is predicted to proceed his partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo up entrance.
Brozovic and Angelo Gabriel ought to preserve their locations in midfield, with Mane and Coman providing their trademark tempo and width.
For Al Khaleej, the large setback is the absence of Paolo Fernandes, suspended after his purple card final trip. That probably opens the door for Mansour Hamzi to step in, whereas Bart Schenkeveld and Mohammed Al-Khabrani ought to proceed as their defensive pairing.
Majed Kanabah and Dimitrios Kourbelis are anticipated to hold the accountability in midfield, leaving Joshua King and Kostas Fortounis to attempt to unsettle Al-Nassr’s again line.
Doable Lineups
Al-Nassr potential lineup:
Alaqidi; Al-Boushal, Al-Amri, Simakan, Al-Ghanam; Mane, Brozovic, Angelo, Coman; Ronaldo, Felix
Al Khaleej potential lineup:
Moris; Al-Hamsal, Schenkeveld, Al-Khabrani, Rebocho; Hamzi, Kanabah, Kourbelis, Masouras; King, Fortounis
On paper, this appears to be like like one other evening the place Al-Nassr’s relentless high quality ought to prevail. Their attacking choices are merely overwhelming, and their rhythm at house makes them terribly tough to cease. Al Khaleej have sufficient firepower to make moments of the match uncomfortable, however their defensive frailties really feel tailored for a group with Al-Nassr’s id.
Softfootball’s view is simple: Al-Nassr ought to have an excessive amount of for the guests. A high-energy conflict is predicted, however the league leaders are favourites to keep up their good begin.
Softfootball Predicts: Al-Nassr 3–1 Al Khaleej
