Aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat, Al Tai welcome Abha to Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium on Friday for round five of the 2023 Saudi Pro League season.

On the other hand, the visitors make the trip to Ha'il aiming to pick up back to back victories for the first time in 2023, having recently returned to winning ways.

Match preview

Al Tai came away empty-handed from the third game running courtesy of a 2-0 defeat against Al Ahli SC at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium on Tuesday.

Kresimir Rezic's men fell behind to Riyad Mahrez's opener six minutes before half time after which Franck Kessie put the result beyond doubt just shy of the hour mark.

Consequently, the Knights of The North have slipped down to 14th place in the Saudi Pro League table, just one point above relegation danger.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have suffered defeat in just one of the last five editions of this fixture across all competitions.

However, that solitary loss did come in the most recent encounter back in April when Friday's hosts battled hard en route to a 1-0 victory.

Abha picked up a second home win in a row as they narrowly saw off the threat of Al Feiha at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Monday.

Goals in either half from Karl Toko Ekambi and Ahmed Jaber put Otakar Dolejs's men in the driving seat after which Fashion Sakala pulled one back three minutes from time.

With six points from their four matches so far, the Leaders of the South sit eighth in the standings, four points clear of the drop zone.

Having lost all of their 12 away outings since the turn of the year, Friday's visitors have it all to do as they look to avoid another fruitless involvement on the road.

Team News

Alfa Semedo is ineligible to play any part in this one having received his marching orders in the first half of Al Tai's defeat to Al Ahli.

This should see midfielder Abdulaziz Al Harabi come into the hosts' XI for what would be only his second starting appearance of the campaign.

Abha's Karl Toko Ekambi is set to retain his place in the lineup here off the back of a debut to remember, where he found the back of the net.

Poland international Grzegorz Krychowiak is a doubt for the visitors after coming off with an injury scare against Al Feiha last time out.

Should Krychowiak be deemed unfit to participate, 30-year-old Ahmad Jamal will be expected to get the nod to feature from the first whistle.

Al Tai possible starting lineup:
Braga; Salem, Roco, Bauer, Alnakhli; Al Harabi; Misidjan, Al Qunaian, Abdullah, Cordea; Al Hazzaa

Abha possible starting lineup:
Tatarusanu; Al Qumayzi, Noguera, Al Sudani, Naji; Jumayah, Matic, Jamal, Kamano; Jaber, Toko Ekambi

We say: Al Tai 1-1 Abha

Al Tai have been poor in front of goal recently, but we are backing them to find the back of the net here. That said, we can also see the hosts failing to keep a clean sheet for a fourth straight game and having to settle for a share of the spoils.


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