Round 20 of the Saudi Pro League will see two in-form teams go head-to-head as Al-Ahli play host to Al-Nassr on Thursday evening at King Abdullah Sports City.
Both sides have won each of their last five games across all competitions, though the visitors are on a much longer unbeaten run of seven matches.
Match preview
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Having previously gone on an explosive run of seven wins in an eight-game unbeaten streak, Al-Ahli's current spell comes after a 2-1 loss against Al Okhdood.
Since that defeat, the Royals have recorded top-flight victories against Al Ettifaq, Al Riyadh, Al Orubah and Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League.
Having done so against much stronger opponents, beating an Al Fateh side struggling at the bottom of the Pro League table would not have posed much of a challenge for a team that had won four consecutive encounters, and indeed Matthias Jaissle's side made their superiority count.
In a heated contest where both sides saw a player sent off, Ivan Toney struck twice from the spot — first three minutes after Al Fateh's Hussain Qassem saw red in the 14th minute, then again in the second half following his teammate Saad Yaslam's dismissal in the 39th — as Al-Malaki secured their fourth straight top-flight triumph.
With that result, Al-Ahli have now accumulated 38 points from 12 wins, two draws and five losses, leaving them fifth in the league standings, three points behind Thursday's opponent, who sit third.
Knowing that victory against the visitors could propel them into the Champions League qualification spots, the Classy Ones will look to make the most of their impressive form at the Abdullah Sports City, having collected 22 points from a possible 27, making them the third-best home side in the division.
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Al Nassr, equally in red-hot form, can also bank on their impressive away record, having won six of their eight such encounters, with their 20 points from a possible 27 making the Big Yellow the second-best travellers in the top flight this term.
Adding further confidence for the visitors heading into Thursday's encounter is their dominance in recent meetings gainst Al-Ahli, winning four of their last six clashes — the only exceptions being 1-1 stalemates in May 2022 and this season's reverse fixture in September.
Meanwhile, three of those victories have come on the road, and Stefano Pioli's side will be aiming to make it four in a row for the first time ever.
Al-Nassr approach this encounter having dispatched Al Fayha 3-0 last weekend, a match in which new signing Jhon Duran opened his account for the club, netting a brace in the 22nd and 72nd minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the triumph with his first goal since turning 40, as Al Alami secured their fourth consecutive league win.
The visitors' electrifying run has been fuelled by their formidable attack, which has produced 19 goals in their last seven outings, tallying at least three in five of those matches, and this firepower will be tested against an Al-Ahli backline that has kept three clean sheets in their last five games.
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Team News
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Al-Ahli defender Yaslam is unavailable for this fixture as he serves a suspension following his red card in the previous outing.
Meanwhile, defensive midfield duo Alexsander and Abdullah Otayf remain sidelined through injury, meaning Gabri Veiga and Ziyad Aljohani are likely to retain their spots in the double pivot.
In the attacking third, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Gelano could feature as a three-man unit, providing support for Toney, who is expected to lead the line once again.
Portuguese midfielder Otavio could miss a second consecutive match for Al Nassr due to injury, while Duran and Ronaldo continue to build on their budding partnership up front, having started the last two matches together in a two-man attack.
Ronaldo leads the league's scoring charts with 16 goals, two clear of Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema, and the 40-year-old forward will look to extend his tally and widen the gap in the Golden Boot race.
Meanwhile, Sami Al Najei remains a long-term absentee for the visitors as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament tear sustained in August 2024, while Aymeric Laporte, who returned to the lineup last time out after missing four matches for personal reasons, is expected to start again here.
Al-Ahli possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Bakor, Demiral, Kessie, Al Ammar; Veiga, Aljohani; Mahrez, Firmino, Galeno; Toney
Al-Nassr possible starting lineup:
Boushal, Alawjami, Laporte, Al Nadji; Angelo, Brozovic, Al Khaibari, Mane; Ronaldo, Duran
We say: Al-Ahli 2-2 Al-Nassr
This is a tough match to call with both sides in rich form, but given their formidable attacks, a high-scoring encounter is expected, making a stalemate the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
![England's Ivan Toney pictured during the warm-up on June 25, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "England's Ivan Toney pictured during the warm-up on June 25, 2024 [IMAGO]")
