Preview: Al Fateh vs. Al-Taawoun - prediction, team news, lineups

Al Fateh will be looking to get their campaign off to a winning start when they host Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium.

The hosts will have hopes of fighting for the title after a decent placement last season, while Al-Taawoun should be targeting a top-four finish this term.

Match preview

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Following on from a sixth-placed finish in the Saudi Pro League last term, Al Fateh are on the hunt to climb into the AFC Champions League places under new management this time around.

Former West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has joined for the 2023-24 campaign after being dismissed of his duties at Championship club Watford in March.

The 54-year-old has previous experience of working outside of the comfort of European football, having taken charge of Beijing Guoan in China between January 2021 and 2022.

Al Fateh may not be favourites to win the league title this season, however they do have considerable prestige in the competition, being the only side based outside of Saudi Arabia's two major cities to win the Pro League since its inception in 2008.

Al-Taawoun have not tasted Pro League glory in their existence, however they do head into the new campaign with a manager who knows his way around Saudi Arabian football.

Pericles Chamusca has been working in the country since taking over at Al-Faisaly in October 2018, before he moved on to major managerial roles at Al Hilal and Al Shabab.

Unlike some of the sides in the division, Taawoun have not seen an influx of European stars to their squad, however the arrival of Andrei Girotto from Ligue 1 outfit Nantes will help bolster their defensive ranks.

Only last season's league winners Al Ittihad boasted a better away record than Chamusca's men in the 2022-23 term, suggesting the visitors could earn something for their efforts on Sunday.

Team News

Al Fateh are set to hand a competitive debut to Lucas Zelarayan following the midfielder's switch from American side Columbus Crew this summer - the 31-year-old netted 10 goals in 20 MLS appearances before his departure.

Belgium international Jason Denayer will be looking to provide a calming presence at the back for Bilic's men, alongside former Almeria defender Francisco Velez.

Al-Taawoun are ready to give Brazilian winger Mateus his competitive debut following a transfer from Japanese outfit Nagoya Grampus during this summer's transfer window.

The visitors also secured the loan signing of Flavio from Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig, and the 27-year-old should provide some steel in the midfield for Chamusca's men.

Al Fateh possible starting lineup:

Rinne; Zubaidi, Al-Oujami, Daheem, Al-Saeed; Fuhaid, Bendebka, Alothma, Tello, Zelarayan; Al-Buraikan

Al-Taawoun possible starting lineup:

Mailson; Al-Ghamdi, Dembele, Kadesh, Yaslam; Flavio, Mahdioui, Al-Mutairi, Mateus, Darwish; Kana

We say: Al Fateh 2-1 Al-Taawoun

Al Fateh will be hoping to make a title challenge under the stewardship of Bilic this term, and we envisage the hosts getting the better of Al-Taawoun on home soil on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides were evenly matched in the 2022-23 term, however the experience of Fateh's Serbian boss should be enough to secure an opening-day success.

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