Locked in a nail-biting Saudi Pro League title race, Al Ittihad travel to face Al-Taawoun on Thursday for matchday 19, aiming for victory to seize top spot.
With 15 wins, one draw and two defeats, the People's Club sit second, while the home side have picked up 24 points from a possible 54, leaving them ninth.
Match preview
© Imago
Level on 46 points with leaders Al Hilal but trailing on goal difference, Al Ittihad can temporarily go top with victory on Thursday while hoping for a favourable result in the Blue Waves' clash with Damac two days later.
The People's Club head into this encounter on the back of a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory against Al Kholood at King Abdullah Sports City last weekend, when Laurent Blanc's men overturned a two-goal deficit to snatch all three points.
Having suffered a heartbreaking defeat in their previous outing at Damac, Nadi Al Watan found themselves on the brink of back-to-back losses after conceding twice in the opening 23 minutes, though goals from Abdulrahman Alobud and Steven Bergwijn restored parity just before halftime.
A stronger second-half display saw Al Ittihad seize control, with Hassan Kadesh putting Al Ittihad ahead before Bergwijn completed his brace to extend the lead, while Myziane Maolida's stoppage-time effort proved only a consolation as the hosts maintained their perfect home league record.
Although the title contenders have won all 10 top-flight encounters in front of their crowd this season, they have not found their travels equally smooth, taking 16 points from a possible 24 and now risking consecutive losses on the road for the first time this campaign.
Al Ittihad have scored 13 goals on their trips, making them the joint-fourth most prolific attacking side away from home, while their seven conceded are the joint-fewest.
Having secured a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in August, the visitors could achieve just their second league double over the hosts after doing so in the 2019-20 campaign.
Meanwhile, Al Taawoun's recent performances offer a mixed bag, showing brilliance in their 3-0 triumph over Al Qadsiah, followed by a 1-1 draw against Al Nassr, but the Wolves faltered against Al Riyadh with a narrow 1-0 loss.
Following that, they adopted a more pragmatic approach, resulting in consecutive goalless stalemates against Al Orobah and Al Fayha, with their clash against the Orange seeing no single shot on target.
Sukkari Al Qassim are currently on a four-match winless run, while their triumph over Al Qadsiah remains the only victory in their last six top-flight outings.
Having now gone three games without finding the back of the net, Al Taawoun are the fifth-worst attacking side in the division, managing just 18 goals, though they have been better at the other end, conceding the third-fewest (16).
Rodolfo Arruabarrena's side have also struggled for wins on home soil in recent times, failing to record victory in the last three such matches in the top flight, with their most recent triumph coming almost three months ago against Al Okhdood.
- L
- W
- D
- L
- D
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
Team News
© Imago
Al Taawoun remain without centre-back Muteb Al Mufarrij, who has been sidelined with a hamstring issue since early December, while Flavio is also ruled out with a knee problem.
Right winger Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi is unavailable due to injury, and first-choice goalkeeper Mailson (muscle) will play no part here, leaving Abdulquddus Atiah set to start in goal for a fourth consecutive game.
Looking to rediscover their scoring touch, Al Taawoun will again turn to top scorer Musa Barrow, who has nine league goals, though the attacker is aiming to end a four-game drought.
The visitors, meanwhile, remain without Ahmed Sharahili due to a cruciate ligament injury, while Abdulaziz Al Bishi has yet to recover from a hamstring issue that has sidelined him for four matches.
On a brighter note, Al Ittihad welcomed Abdulelah Al Amri back from a torn muscle fibre injury, with the centre-back making a brief five-minute cameo in their previous game.
Surprisingly, Karim Benzema failed to find the net despite his team scoring four goals last time out, and the French striker will be eager to return to scoring form.
Al-Taawoun possible starting lineup:
Atiah; Al-Jumayah, Girotto, Rivas, Al-Saluli, Girotto; Fajr, El Mahdioui, Bahusayn; Martinez, Barrow
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Al Shanqeeti, Al Mousa, Pereira, Kadesh; Kante, Fabinho; Al Obod, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema
We say: Al-Taawoun 0-2 Al Ittihad
Despite Al Taawoun's pragmatic approach keeping opponents at bay, we expect Al Ittihad's firepower to break through their compact defence, while the hosts' continued struggles in attack make an away win the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
