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Saudi Pro League | Gameweek 4
Sep 20, 2024 at 7pm UK
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
Al-Nassr

Al Ettifaq
0 - 3
Al-Nassr


Fofana (49'), Dembele (88')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Ronaldo (33' pen.), Al-Najdi (56'), Talisca (71')
Ali (88')

Preview: Al Ettifaq vs. Al-Nassr - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Saudi Pro League clash between Al Ettifaq and Al-Nassr, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Al Ettifaq will put their perfect record in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season on the line on Friday night when they welcome Al-Nassr to the Al Ettifaq Club Stadium for a gameweek four showdown.

The hosts have taken the maximum nine points from their first three matches in the new league season, while the visitors have made a stuttering start, managing five points over the same period.


Match preview

Georginio Wijnaldum of Al Ettifaq on September 15, 2024© Imago

Al Ettifaq were widely tipped to be the side to challenge the PIF-owned club's dominance last season, but they failed to live up to the expectation, ending the campaign in sixth place and managing exactly half the 96-point tally of league winners Al-Hilal.

However, the Knights of Ad-Dahna have begun this term in the best way possible, securing a 1-0 win away at Al-Shabab followed by a 1-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud and a 2-1 triumph versus Al-Fateh either side of the international break.

This promising start has been much-needed for Steven Gerrard after his disappointing first year in charge, and his side have now won the opening three games for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign, when they triumphed in seven of their first 10, going undefeated across that same period.

If Al-Ettifaq pick up a victory against last season's runners-up on Friday, it will mark the club's longest winning streak since they last won four consecutive games between October and November of 2012.

While the hosts did lose to their upcoming opponents in the last two encounters, it is worth noting that both those defeats were in Riyadh, while here in Dammam, they are unbeaten in the last three, including a 2-1 league victory last season.

Al Nassr head coach Stefano Pioli  on September 15, 2024© Imago

Meanwhile, things have not been going well over at Al-Nassr, with the side delivering a few underwhelming performances in the early stages of the season, which sees them already trailing the top three by four points.

Over the first three league games, the Knights of Najd have returned draws against Al Raed and Al Ahli with a win over Al Fayha in between, before playing out another stalemate in their opening AFC Champions League fixture against Al Shorta on Monday night.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte both missing, Nassr found the going tough at Al-Madina International Stadium, and that match turned out to be the last one for Luis Castro, who was sacked by the club on Tuesday night.

Al-Alami wasted no time in replacing the Portuguese manager, appointing former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli as his replacement the following day, and the Italian tactician will be set to make his debut in this one.

Al Ettifaq Saudi Pro League form:
  • W
  • W
  • W

Al Ettifaq form (all competitions):


Al-Nassr Saudi Pro League form:
  • D
  • W
  • D

Al-Nassr form (all competitions):



Team News

Al Ettifaq coach Steven Gerrard on November 4, 2023© Reuters

Gerrard has just one injury absentee at present in the form of Scottish centre-back Jack Hendry, who has yet to feature this season owing to a serious knee injury.

Former Leicester City winger Demarai Gray missed Al Ettifaq's last match after arriving late from international duty with Jamaica, but he could now have serious competition for a starting spot after Joao Costa's impressive cameo last week.

Pioli may have to start his tenure in the Middle East without the services of club captain Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese legend was forced to miss the team's trip to Iran due to illness.

If CR7 is unable to feature in this match as well, Talisca is the most likely candidate to lead the line for the visitors, with Otavio and Sadio Mane providing the support in attack from midfield.


Al Ettifaq possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Otaibi, Al-Khateeb, Madu, Alolayan; Vitinho, Wijnaldum, Fofana; Radif, Dembele, Gray

Al-Nassr possible starting lineup:
Bento; Al Ghanam, Alawjami, Laporte, Simakan; Brozovic, Al-Khaibari, Mane, Ghareeb, Otavio; Talisca


SM words green background

We say: Al Ettifaq 1-1 Al-Nassr

Usually, Al-Nassr would enter this fixture as clear favourites, but opinions are divided this time given the start they have made and the potential absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. We are expecting a very evenly contested match here and feel that there will be nothing to split these two at the final whistle.



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




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Game History

How you voted: Al Ettifaq vs Al-Nassr

Al Ettifaq
19.4%
Draw
12.9%
Al-Nassr
67.7%
31
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Al-HilalAl-Hilal66001861218
2Al Ittihad65011771015
3Al-Nassr64201431114
4Al ShababAl Shabab640253212
5Al-TaawounAl-Taawoun631274310
6Al Quadisiya631263310
7Al Riyadh63121011-110
8Al Ettifaq631256-110
9Al RaedAl Raed62139637
10Al-AhliAl-Ahli62138717
11Al Orubah6213610-47
12Al Khaleej621337-47
13Damac6204810-26
14Al Fayha6123512-75
15Al WahdaAl Wahda6123816-85
16Al Kholood6114712-54
17Al Okhdood6114611-54
18Al Fateh6105412-83


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