The Riyadh Derby will bring down the final curtain on Friday's Saudi Pro League action with Al-Nassr taking on arch-rivals Al-Hilal at Al Awal Park at King Saud University.
Al-Nassr are in third place in the league standings and are trailing the league leaders, who have been flawless this season, by six points after the first eight games of the campaign.
Match preview
© Imago
Despite holding an unbeaten league record this season, three draws in the first eight games sees Al-Nassr already off the pace of the frontrunners, and while it is still very early in the campaign, you get the feeling that they cannot afford to lose this match if they intend to challenge for the title.
However, the Knights of Najd have not been in the best form leading up to this match, having only managed a draw in their last league game against Al Kholood, where a stoppage-time penalty scored by Talisca saved their blushes.
That match was followed by an even more disappointing result for Stefano Pioli's side, as they were knocked out of the King's Cup in the round of 16, losing to Al-Taawoun 1-0 at home on Tuesday evening.
At Al Awal Park, Al-Nassr have played six matches across all competitions this season and have a record of three wins, two draws and one loss, while taking eight points from a possible 12 in four top-flight matches.
Al-Alami will now need to find a way to overcome their title rivals in this match, though they have not managed to beat them in any of their last five attempts, losing three and drawing two, while being outscored 12-3 during their current winless run.
© Imago
Meanwhile, we may have said it more than once already this season, but Al-Hilal are genuinely looking like a side that are going to go all the way to another title this term based on their performances so far.
The Blue Waves have won all 15 matches they have played across league and cup competitions, with their most recent victory coming over lower league outfit Al Tai 4-1 in the King's Cup in midweek.
In league terms, Jorge Jesus's side are on a 10-match winning streak and have scored two or more goals in each of those matches, while they have only conceded six at the other end this season.
On the road, the visitors are averaging three goals scored per outing and have won their last five in succession. The last time Blue Power tasted defeat in an away league game, was on May 25 in the closing stages of the 2022-23 season.
Team News
© Imago
Al-Nassr were given a major scare when Aymeric Laporte was forced off the field with a knock against Al Kholood last week, but he returned to the starting lineup against Al-Taawoun and played the full 90, suggesting he should be good to go in this one.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match against Al Kholood and was unable to find the net in midweek upon his return. CR7 has now failed to score from open play in his last four matches in all competitions.
The hosts have just one known injury absentee for this match in the form of Sami Al-Najei, who is likely to miss the remainder of the season having recently undergone cruciate ligament surgery.
After making his long-awaited return following a year on the sidelines, Neymar will be the only absentee for the visitors in this match as he was not registered with the Saudi Pro League at the start of the season due to his injury, though he is eligible to play in the AFC Champions League.
Aleksander Mitrovic notched up his 10th goal in the league against Al-Taawoun last time out and the Serbian is now two clear of Karim Benzema and four ahead of Ronaldo in the leading goal-scorer standings in the top flight this term.
Al-Nassr possible starting lineup:
Bento; Al-Ghannam, Simakan, Laporte, Al-Najdi; Yahya, Brozovic; Otavio, Talisca, Mane; Ronaldo
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Al Bulaihi, Lodi; Kanno, Milinkovic-Savic; Malcom, Leonardo, Al-Dawsari; Mitrovic
We say: Al-Nassr 1-3 Al-Hilal
While Al-Nassr can never fully be written off on their home patch, it would take a brave soul to back against Al-Hilal given the way they have performed this season, even without the services of Brazilian icon Neymar.
The Blue Waves have taken on all-comers so far and are unbeaten in their last five against this opponent. We feel they will extend that unbeaten run with another victory on Friday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
