The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will be the venue for the one-on-one clash between Al Ahli and Damac on Friday at 16:55 GMT+1, with the two sides going for the win that will bolster their nascent Saudi Pro League campaigns.
Key Highlights
Al Ahli
Al Ahli have been disappointing this season given their lofty standards and the quality of the squad they have at their disposal. Languishing in 9th on the table, pressure is building inside the Al Ahli ranks to take a turn for the best, and soon, after a poor start.
The silver lining for Al Ahli this season is their defensive solidity, which has been a common feature through their three performances despite their poor showings of football, especially in an attacking sense.
Al Ahli have conceded just twice. The biggest focus for Matthias Jaissle is to retain the solidity his side have displayed while losing the dynamism and creativity in the final third to ensure that their play is more penetrative and clinical.
Al Ahli Form: D-W-W-L-D-W
Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney made his debut for Al Ahli and in the Saudi Pro League in the 1-1 draw Against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr
Damac
Damac are going into the clash against Al Ahli on a high after the 3-1 triumph over Al Okhdood, their first of their Saudi Pro League season.
Their showings have been, on average, poor. They have not shown significant dynamism in the final third to build confidence in their attack. Having scored five and conceded five times in three matches, there is a need for a tweaked balance in the team ahead of facing Al Ahli on Friday.
Damac’s gaffer, Cosmin Contra, needs to get his side motivated to realize a significant improvement in performances if they are to climb the table, starting with Friday’s clash against a reeling Al Ahli.
Damac Form: D-L-D-L-L-W
Injury Report
Neither side has reported fresh injury news ahead of their Friday clash.
Team News
Al Ahli will look forward to further evidence of how Ivan Toney fits into the sides, his link-up play with other attackers, and his potency in front of goal. After a tough outing against Al Nassr in the 1-1 draw, Toney will have a brilliant chance to open his account in the Saudi Pro League.
Damac’s hopes in the clash against Al Ahli will rest, once again, on the brilliant Georges N’Koudou. The winger, who plays predominantly on the left but cuts inside to get involved in the creative bits of the game or push forward to get to the end of things, will be Damac’s biggest threat in the final third.
Prediction
The last four matches for Damac have ended in defeats, whereas Al Ahli have not scored more than two goals in their last five outings. These stats mean that this match
