Al-Ittihad
- Al-Ittihad have won 4, drawn 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches in all competitions, a run that is too mixed to suggest a blowout in their favour on Saturday.
- Their last game was a 2-2 away tie against Malaga CF in a friendly played a few weeks ago and came a few days after a brutal 1-5 home loss to Al-Qadsiah Al Khubar in Profesional League 2025/2026.
- The full-backs overlap and the second wave of attack arrives in numbers, which ought to suit the home side in this fixture against a team that like to possess and play through the middle.
Al Kholood
- Pablo Villar will have Al Kholood set up to be compact and disciplined in a 4-1-4-1 system designed to clog the middle and force the play wide, which could be a good test for Wissing's new plan.
- The visitors are winless in their last five, with three draws and two defeats, which suggests they will lack the cutting edge to break down Al-Ittihad's defense in this contest.
- They have won two of their last ten in all competitions, drawing five and losing three, which looks like the grinder's record that will come to a head against a more talented Al-Ittihad side.
Head-to-Head
- Al-Ittihad have scored 1.40 and conceded 2.00 goals per home game in all competitions.
- Al Kholood have conceded 12 goals at an average of 2.40 away in all competitions.
- Al-Ittihad have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of the last 5 meetings with Al Kholood (W3, D1, L1).
- The visitors have failed to beat Al-Ittihad in their last two meetings, both of which were played away from home.
Key Players
- Jens Wissing's side have been much more dangerous in front of goal when Houssem Aouar has been allowed to join the attack from his number 10 role, particularly in transition and around the box.
- That is the German's tactical tweak to the game plan and it has given Al-Ittihad a more vertical, German-ish edge to their play in the last few games.
Betting Insights
- The odds reflect that, of course, with the hosts at 1.55, Al Kholood at 5.4 and the draw at 4.2, so we'll look to the goal markets for the best betting value.
- Backing Over 2.5 goals at 1.62 and Both Teams To Score at 1.67 seems to fit the matchup well, but our main selection is Al-Ittihad to win with both teams on the scoresheet.
Prediction
- The head-to-head history suggests the home team can just edge a close game and a 2-1 or 3-1 kind of result will fit the markets best.
- Al-Ittihad have conceded an average of two goals per game at home, so they should create enough chances to break down a compact Al Kholood defense on the road.