Al-Ittihad

vs

Al Shabab Riyadh

Preview

Al-Ittihad (Home)

• Al-Ittihad have struggled for consistency at home this term, winning two and losing three of their five Profesional League 2025/2026 matches on their own turf and conceding an average of 1.60 goals per game.
• Sergio Conceição took charge of The Blue Waves in October 2025 and immediately set about implementing a compact, high-intensity system with a focus on winning the ball back quickly and creating dangerous transitions.
• Al-Ittihad currently sit seventh in the Profesional League 2025/2026 standings with 14 points from nine games, but Saturday’s visitors Al Shabab Riyadh are in 13th with eight points.

Al Shabab Riyadh (Away)

• Imanol Alguacil has overseen a much more patient and possession-based style at Al Shabab Riyadh since taking over in July 2025, where his side have built much of their attacks from the build-up and relied on good positional discipline to keep the balance.
• Shabab have struggled for goals on the road - scoring only two times in four away league fixtures - and it will take a solid performance from them to hold off their hosts.

Head-to-Head

• Al-Ittihad have won four of the last five games between the clubs in all competitions.
• Al-Ittihad hammered Shabab 4-1 at home in the King's Cup 2025/2026 earlier this season.

Key Players

• Yannick Carrasco has been a good influence on Shabab’s attacks and has four goals in eight for the league.
• Karim Benzema has four in six for the league and six in his last five in all competitions.

Betting Insights

• Conceição’s side come in as 1.53 favorites for Saturday’s clash and their visitors as 5.25 outsiders.
• The Over 2.5 goals market is taken as the main selection because Alguacil’s side, who will have to deal with some aggressive pressing, will not be able to keep the home side at bay.

Prediction

• Main pick: Over 2.5 goals.
• Result prediction:Al-Ittihad to win.
• Why:Karim Benzema's hot form and Al-Ittihad's home quality make them likely to impose themselves and produce goals.