Al-Hazm vs. Al-Nassr (September 2nd) Saudi Pro League Match Prediction
Bottom club Al-Hazm will welcome out-of-form Al-Nassr to the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium for a Saudi Pro League clash on Saturday at 18:00 GMT.
Key Highlights
Al-Hazm’s Bid to Turn Their Form Around
The newly promoted Al-Hazm have had a poor start to life in the Saudi Pro League. They are winless after three rounds of fixtures and have a point out of the nine available in the early season matches.
Worryingly for Al-Hazm, they have scored just once in their last three outings in the Saudi Pro League while conceding five times. The lack of firepower in the final third is compounded by their lack of solidity at the back in the early matches.
Coming up against last year’s runners-up in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr, looking to turn their form around, Al-Hazm will need to fix their mistakes, porousness in midfield, and find some clinical potency in their attacking end to stand a chance of taking anything out of this match.
Defending against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane will require a team effort, and the manager will need to get the shape right to allow his side to be compact in the middle of the pack, solid at the back, and thus difficult to play against.
Al-Nassr’s Poor Start to the Saudi Pro League Season
Al-Nassr had an uncharacteristic start to the season. Al-Nassr won once and lost twice in the opening three rounds of fixtures. They have three points out of the available nine, scored six goals (five of them in one match) and conceded four times.
In the clash away to Al Fateh, Al-Nassr showed signs of regaining their form as they look to reboot their early season form. They scored five goals in a scintillating attacking display that hints at good form returning.
A Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick was important to Al-Nassr because when the Portuguese attacker is in form and happy, the team ticks and is potent going forward.
A brace by Sadio Mane was another sign of his increasing understanding and partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, which will be important for Al-Nassr as they look to challenge at the top of the table.
Al-Nassr will look to keep their good form going when they travel to Al Fateh on Saturday, get the three points, and help their rise from their current 9th position toward the top of the table.
Injury Report
Al-Hazm
Al-Hazm will have access to the full complement of their squad. The club has not reported any injuries in the lead-up to the match against Al-Nassr.
Al-Nassr
Al-Nassr will still be without long-term absentee David Ospina in the goal. Otherwise, the squad has been given a clean bill of health, which will be a boost for the manager as he plots a path for Al-Nassr to the top of the Saudi Pro League.
Possible Lineups
Al-Hazm
A. Dahmen; F. Al-Aazmi, Abdurahman Al Dakheel, B. Viana, A.A. Otaibi; Y. Al Shammari, B. Alsayyali, B. H. Traore, Vinicius; N. Al Habashi, Toze
Al-Nassr
N. Alaqidi; G. Konan, A. Laporte, M. Al-Fatil, S. Al Ghanam; M. Brozovic, A. Al-Khaibari; A. Ghareeb, Otavio, S. Mane; Cristiano Ronaldo
Prediction
Al-Hazm will look to use their home advantage in this match; they will be pragmatic, compact, and solid in their approach. They will defend deep and narrow to make it difficult for Al-Nassr to play through them.
Al-Nassr will look to play on the front foot, dominate the ball, and allow their potent attackers to create and take chances.
Al-Nassr will have too much for Al-Hazm. They will win the match and bolster their climb of the Saudi Pro League table.
