Preview:Saudi Arabia vs. Tajikistan - prediction, team news, lineups

Saudi Arabia will be looking to make it three World Cup qualifying victories in as many matches when they entertain the challenge of Tajikistan at the King Saud Sport City on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the away side head to Al-Bahah aiming to claim a rare victory over their hosts and boost their chances of a maiden global appearance.

Match preview

© Reuters

Saudi Arabia saw their Asian Cup journey end in dramatic fashion as they lost on penalties against South Korea at the Education City Stadium on January 30.

Roberto Mancini's men broke the deadlock seconds after half time through Abdullah Radif but were pegged back in stoppage time by Gue-Sung Cho, whose leveller saw the tie proceed to spot kicks, where Sami Al Najei and Abdulrahman Ghareeb both fluffed their lines.

That snapped an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions for the Green Falcons since a 3-1 loss to Mali back in the third week of October.

Awaiting them next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat in the only previous edition of this fixture.

Having not lost on home turf in just under a year, Thursday's hosts will fancy themselves to get the job done once again and maintain their perfect record in Group G of the World Cup qualifiers.

Tajikistan were narrowly dumped out of the last eight of the Asian Cup courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Jordan at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on February 2.

Gela Shekiladze's men fell behind to Vahdat Khanonov's own goal midway through the second half and that proved to be the all-important moment in a tight affair.

However, the Crowns have picked up a win and a draw apiece from their opening two World Cup qualifiers and sit second in Group G, two points shy of their next opponents.

With the sides scheduled to face off again five days later, Thursday's visitors now set out to get one over their hosts on enemy territory.

Team News

Unsurprisingly, Roberto Mancini has once again opted for strictly home-based players, with the entirety of Saudi Arabia's 25-man squad currently plying their trades locally.

Mohammed Al-Owais has been in splendid form with Al-Hilal and is expected to fend off competition from Mohammed Al-Rubaie to start between the sticks.

Akhtam Nazarov is set for an 83rd international cap, which would see him extend his lead at the top of Tajikistan's all-time appearances chart to 11 over 72-cap Davron Erghashev.

Despite all making the cut for the Asian Cup, Kholmurod Nazarov, Komron Tursunov and Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov have all been left out by the visitors this time around as Gela Shekiladze seeks to mix things up.

Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup: Al-Owais; Al-Shahrani, Al-Bulaihi, Abdulhamid, Kadesh; Al-Dawsari, Kanno, Al-Malki, Ghareeb; Al-Buraikan, Al-Shehri

Tajikistan possible starting lineup: Yatimov; Nazarov, Dzhuraboyev, Safarov, Khanonov; Juraboev, Umarbayev, Panjshanbe; Samiev, Mabatshoev, Soirov

We say: Saudi Arabia 3-0 Tajikistan

Despite a disappointing defeat last time out, Saudi Arabia have been in imperious form since the turn of the year and remain huge favourites here. We can see the hosts cruising to an emphatic victory in the end.

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