Preview:Al Wahda vs. Abha - prediction, team news, lineups

Al Wahda will be looking to pick up back to back victories when they welcome Abha to the King Abdul Aziz Stadium on Friday in round seven of the 2023 Saudi Pro League season.

On the other hand, the away side make the journey to Mecca aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat and get their league campaign back on track.

Match preview

Al Wahda came away with maximum points from an entertaining six-goal thriller against Damac in Thursday's encounter between the sides which ended 4-2.

Giorgos Donis's men went into the interval with a 2-1 lead thanks to Odion Ighalo's brace either side of Assan Ceesay's strike after which Ighalo and Craig Goodwin netted to put the result beyond doubt, rendering Sultan Faqihi's late strike inconsequential.

Consequently, the Knights of Mecca have moved up to eighth place in the Saudi Pro League table, four points adrift of the current top four.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have been beaten in four of the last five editions of this fixture across all competitions.

Having scored seven times in three home matches this term, Friday's hosts will be confident of putting on another masterclass in front of their fans en route to a positive result.

Abha were on the receiving end of a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Al Ettifaq at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Moussa Dembele, Robin Quaison and Hamed Al Ghamdi left Czeslaw Michniewicz's men with a mountain to climb before Karl Toko Ekambi pulled one back from the penalty spot late on.

With six points picked up from as many matches so far, The Leaders of the South sit 11th in the standings, three points and three places adrift of their next opponents.

Off the back of 13 straight away losses, Friday's visitors have it all to do as they look to avoid defeat on the road for the first time since the turn of the year.

Team News

Following his three-goal haul versus Damac, Odion Ighalo has now scored four times in his opening four games for Al Wahda since his summer transfer.

Craig Goodwin wasted no time in announcing himself to his new employers with a goal on his debut as a substitute, which could see him get the nod to start this time around.

Thirty-one-year-old Toko Ekambi got himself on the scoresheet yet again for Abha last time out, making the forward one to keep an eye on here.

Ziyad Al Sahafi will be pushing to make his bow for the visiting team after having to settle with a place on the bench against Al Ettifaq.

Al Wahda possible starting lineup:

Atiah; Al Muwallad, Bakshween, Al Hafith, Hawsawi; Fajr, Al Haji; Goodwin, Anselmo, Van Crooy; Ighalo

Abha possible starting lineup:

Tatarusanu; Al Qumayzi, Noguera, Jamal, Naji; Al Salouli, Matic, Krychowiak, Kamano; Al Shammeri, Toko Ekambi

We say: Al Wahda 2-1 Abha

Al Wahda's six matches this term have yielded a combined 22 goals and we expect another goalfest here. That said, we are backing the home side to fend off the threat of their visitors and carry the day in the end.

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