Fighting for a top-half finish as the Saudi Pro League season draws to a close, Al Fayha will welcome Al Shabab to Al Majma'ah Sports City Stadium on Monday.

Al Burtuqali will be looking to bounce back after tasting defeat last time out, while Al Latih will be hoping to end the campaign by making it three wins from their final four games.

Match preview

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Pedro Emanuel's Al Fayha have alternated between victory and defeat across their last four fixtures, though they still have an outside chance of finishing in the top half on matchday 34.

On Wednesday, Al Burtuqali were beaten 2-0 on the road by Al Kholood, who struck late in both halves through Hammam Al Hammami and Aliou Dieng, and the manager will be frustrated that his team controlled possession yet produced three times fewer shots on goal than their opponents.

Dropping three points in midweek saw Emanuel's side fall down to 13th in the table after they were overtaken by both Fakhr Ar Rass and Al Fateh.

However, Monday's hosts will be confident of making up the ground on their rivals, buoyed by the fact that they have won their last three on the bounce at Al Majma'ah Sports City Stadium and have only lost once at home in 2025.

Victory would see Al Fayha end the campaign on 39 points, a tally that could be enough to take them up to ninth place ahead of Al Fateh, Al Kholood, Al Khaleej and Al Riyadh.

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Meanwhile, Fatih Terim's Al Shabab have fallen short of reaching the top flight's AFC competition places after dropping 10 points across their last six games, but they will want to end their campaign on a positive note before pushing on next term.

This past Tuesday, Al Latih narrowly lost 3-2 to champions Al Ittihad, and though the result was not surprising, the boss will have been disappointed to see his team concede in the first minute.

That defeat left Terim's men sixth, where their 57 points has them 11 behind third-placed Al-Qadisah, who currently occupy the division's spot for entry into the AFC Champions League 2.

As they look to put their best foot forward with 2025-26 in mind, Monday's visitors will be aware of the fact that they have performed significantly better on their own turf than on the road, though having lost just two of their last eight away games, their resilience could earn them at least one point this week.

Al Shabab's 18th victory of the season would see them close out the campaign on 60 points, 24 above their opponents, and would also mark the third time that they have beaten Al Fayha this year.

Team News

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Al Fayha could be without midfielder Gojko Cimirot after he was taken off with an injury against Al Kholood, and Nawwaf Al Harthi may take his place alongside Otabek Shukurov.

Likewise, club captain and centre-back Sami Al-Khaibari is unavailable, so expect to see Mokher Al-Rashidi, Chris Smalling and Gabriel Vareta line up in a back three.

On the flanks, Fashion Sakala and Mohamed Al Baqawi will provide width from wing-back, supporting Khalid Al-Kaabi and Alejandro Pozuelo behind striker Renzo Lopez.

As for Al Shabab, front man Abderrazak Hamdallah was forced off through injury during the first half of his side's game against Al Ittihad, and Haroune Camara is likely to join Daniel Podence and Yannick Carrasco in Terim's forward line on Monday.

In the centre of the park, Glen Kamara should start as part of a trio featuring Musab Al Juwayr and Cristian Guaca, who scored in Tuesday's defeat.

Elsewhere, centre-backs Mohamed Al Shwirekh and Wesley Hoedt will start at the heart of defence for Al Latih, protecting Hoerhiy Bushchan between the sticks.

Al Fayha possible starting lineup:
Mosquera; Al-Rashidi, Smalling, Vareta; Baqawi, Shukurov, Al Harthi, Sakala; Al-Kaabi, Pozuelo; Lopez

Al Shabab possible starting lineup:
Bushchan; Al-Thani, Shwirekh, Hoedt, Renan; Juwayr, Kamara, Guanca; Podence, Camara, Carrasco

© PA Photos

We say: Al Fayha 2-1 Al Shabab

Al Fayha may be in mixed form overall, but their home record that features three consecutive wins ahead of this clash suggests that they will be expecting to take all three points on their own turf.

Additionally, Al Shabab have been notably weaker on the road, and they could find it tough to gain a foothold in Monday's game.


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

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