Preview:Al-Hilal vs. Al Fayha - prediction, team news, lineups

Al-Hilal and Al Fayha will do battle in the sophomore round of matches in the 2023 Saudi Pro League campaign at MRSOOL Park on Saturday evening.

Having both come away with maximum points from their most recent outings, the teams head into this one aiming to pick up where they left off.

Match preview

Al Hilal fended off the challenge of Abha courtesy of an emphatic 3-1 triumph in Sunday's encounter at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.

Jorge Jesus's men opened the scoring through Malcolm but were soon pegged back by Saad Bguir, after which Malcolm wrapped up his hat-trick in the second half to decide the match.

That was a perfect response for the Blue Waves to last Saturday's Arab Club Champions Cup final defeat to Al Nassr at the King Fahd Stadium.

Next up is the task of squaring up against an opposing outfit who have more than held their own in this fixture of late, picking up three wins and two draws in the last eight meetings.

Unbeaten in all of their home league games since March, Saturday's hosts will fancy themselves to enjoy another fruitful outing in front of their fans.

Al Fayha could not have asked for a better start to their league campaign as they claimed a 3-1 triumph over Al Khaleej at Al Majma'ah Sports City on Saturday.

Vuk Rasovic's men went into the interval with a comfortable lead thanks to strikes from Ricardo and Fashion Sakala after which Sultan Mandash put the final nail in the coffin, rendering Hisham Al Dubais's effort inconsequential.

Consequently, the Mills of Sudair have won three of their last four outings, with a 0-0 stalemate against Hungarian side Szeged the only exception in that time.

Having kept clean sheets in all but one of their most recent four involvements on the road, Saturday's visitors will be aiming to put on another solid defensive display away from home.

Team News

Following his three-goal haul last time out, Malcolm has now netted five times in his last three appearances for Al-Hilal, making him one to keep an eye on.

New arrival Neymar is poised to debut for his new employers having recently completed a summer move from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was rested for his side's last outing, but the midfielder is largely expected to make an immediate return to the starting lineup.

Fashion Sakala had a debut to remember for Al Fayha against Al Khaleej as he grabbed a goal and an assist apiece, making him one to keep an eye on.

Ricardo and Anthony Nwakaeme are both doubts for the away side having come off with injury scares in the first half of the aforementioned game.

Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:

Al Owais; Al Shahrani, Al Bulayhi, Koulibaly, Abdulhamid; Neves, Milinkovic-Savic; Al Dawsari, Neymar, Michael; Malcolm

Al Fayha possible starting lineup:

Stojkovic; Al Qaydhi, Al Shuwaish, Al Rashidi, Al Baqawi, Al Safari; Sakala, Cimirot, Ricardo, Majrashi; Mandash

We say: Al-Hilal 3-1 Al Fayha

Al-Hilal boast significantly more quality than their opponents all over the pitch and we can see them cruising to a comfortable victory at the end of the 90 minutes here.

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