Al-Najma (SAUD)
- Al-Najma (SAUD) are in the Saudi Arabian Professional League, but their current campaign is already looking like a fight for survival.
- They have picked up just 2 points from their opening 12 matches and have yet to secure a win.
- Mario Silva, who took over in July 2024, has tried to set up his men in a compact 5-3-2/3-5-2 system with a focus on defensive solidity and counterattacks, but the players just haven’t been good enough in the final third.
- Their only real goal threat is Brazilian attacker Lazaro, who has 3 goals in 9 league appearances this term.
- Al-Najma are without a win in their last 5 (D3, L2) and have lost their previous two away games before battling back from 2-1 down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Al Khaleej.
Al-Ettifaq Dammam (Away)
- Al-Ettifaq Dammam are an in-form side in 8th place with 19 points from 12 games this season and are in no danger of relegation.
- They are unbeaten in their last 5 (W3, D2).
- Saad Al-Shehri has done a terrific job since taking over in January 2025, installing a dynamic, pressing-based game plan that has given them the momentum to remain in the top half of the division.
- Georginio Wijnaldum has been a revelation for Al-Ettifaq Dammam, scoring 9 goals in 12 league games and bagging 6 of the team's last 9 goals.
- Alvaro Medran has been another big catalyst for their good form, creating 3 assists in their 5-game unbeaten run, which has seen them defeat Al Riyadh away and Al Akhdoud at home, while holding Al Nassr FC to a 2-2 draw.
Key Players
- Georginio Wijnaldum
- scoring 9 goals in 12 league games.
- bagging 6 of the team's last 9 goals.
- Alvaro Medran
- creating 3 assists in their 5-game unbeaten run.
- Lazaro
- has 3 goals in 9 league appearances this term.
Betting Insights
- Despite the odds suggesting this is a close matchup (Al-Ettifaq Dammam 2.0 and Al-Najma 3.65), the visitors are the team in much better form, they have the superior attacking quality and are higher in the table.
- Al-Ettifaq unbeaten in last 5 and Al-Najma with 2 points from 12 are clear form indicators to consider.
Prediction
Ettifaq win , with over 2.5 goals at 2.0 also likely given Ettifaq’s average of 1.60 goals scored and 1.60 goals conceded per away game.
