Preview: Al Okhdood vs Al Ittihad - prediction, team news, lineups

Al Ittihad will get their Saudi Pro League title defence underway when they travel to the Prince Hathloul Stadium to face Al Okhdood on Saturday.

The hosts narrowly secured their top-flight survival last term as they placed one point above the drop zone, while the visitors won the title with an eight-point lead.

Match preview

Al Okhdood secured their first-ever promotion to the Saudi Pro League as they placed second in the second division in 2022-23, finishing just four points behind champions Al Ahli.

Al Okhdood have been embroiled in intense relegation battles in each of the following two seasons in the top division, narrowly securing their safety by just one point on both occasions.

A victory on the final day of the 2023-24 season saw them climb above Al Tai and Abha to 15th with 33 points, while back-to-back wins at the end of the last campaign also moved them up to 15th and just a point above the drop zone.

Paulo Sergio, who joined in February and led the side to safety, will be hoping to steer Al Okhdood clear of the relegation battle altogether this season, and the manager will be hoping for a statement victory on matchday one of the new campaign.

The hosts will welcome defending champions Al Ittihad to the Prince Hathloul Stadium, meaning a win on matchday one would be a major upset.

While Al Ittihad are undoubtedly the overwhelming favourites to secure a comfortable win, the visitors are enduring a poor run of form heading into the clash.

The People's Club ended last season with seven straight victories, but they have since suffered four consecutive defeats, including three pre-season defeats and a loss to Al Nassr in the semi-final of the Super Cup.

Despite that poor form, Al Ittihad will be full of confidence heading into a new Saudi Pro League campaign, especially as they have won three of their four encounters with Al Okhdood.

Al Okhdood form (all competitions):

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Al Ittihad form (all competitions):

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Team News

Al Okhdood have made a number of signings during the summer as they aim to strengthen ahead of a new campaign in which they will be looking to avoid relegation once again.

New striker Blaz Kramer could lead the line for Al Okhdood on Saturday, while Samuel Portugal, Mohammed Abo Abd and Koray Gunter could all also start.

Meanwhile, Al Ittihad have kept all of their big name players heading into the new campaign, and the likes of Karim Benzema, Moussa Diaby, Steven Bergwijn, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho all expected to start on Saturday.

Fabinho could drop into centre-back ahead of Saad Al-Mousa following the Super Cup defeat, potentially allowing new signing Hamed Al-Ghamdi to start in midfield.

Al Okhdood possible starting lineup:

Portugal; Abo Abd, Gunter, Alqaydhi, Khamis; Gul, Pedroza; Bassogog, Al Hatila, Al Shaekh; Kramer

Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:

Al-Shanqiti; Shanqeeti, Fabinho, Pereira, Mitaj; Kante, Al-Ghamdi; Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema

We say: Al Okhdood 0-2 Al Ittihad

Al Ittihad may be in underwhelming form heading into the clash, but the defending champions will be eager to get their title defence underway with a win, and given their strong record in this fixture, we expect a comfortable away victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.