Al Orobah will play in front of the home supporters on Thursday when they host the in-form Al Ittihad in a Saudi Pro League clash. Kickoff is scheduled for 18:00 GMT+1.
Key Highlights
Al Orobah
Al Orobah are stuck in a poor run of form that has seen them win 3 times, draw once, and lose five times. The result is that they sit 12th on the table with 10 points out of a possible 27, and just four points off the bottom two.
Their poor form is also underlined by the fact that they have collected six points out of the available 15 from their last rounds of fixtures, losing three times in the process.
While their attack has been poor with just 9 goals scored, an average of a single goal per match, their defensive record has been worse, conceding an average of two goals per match, with 19 goals shipped in 9 matches.
The manager, Álvaro Pacheco, must adjust his side’s approach to matches ahead of hosting one of the in-form sides in the Saudi Pro League to boost their chances of taking something from this match.
Al Ittihad
Laurent Blanc has turned Al Ittihad into an efficient machine this season. They have underlined their title credentials with eight wins and one loss in the opening nine rounds of fixtures in the Saudi Pro League.
They are second on the table with 24 points, one point behind the unbeaten Al Hilal. Al Ittihad have matched Al Hilal in every department so far, highlighting their ability to go the distance in the fight for the Saudi Pro League title.
They scored 22 times, within two goals of Al Hilal’s 24, and they conceded eight times in nine matches, one more than Al Hilal’s seven goals. They have been flawless at home, maintaining a 100% record with five wins out of 5 matches played. Away from home, they have dropped three points so far out of four matches, winning the remaining 3 matches.
So far, Laurent Blanc’s men have over-performed their xG For per match, which is pegged at 1.43; they have scored 22 goals. They have also over-performed their 1.23 xG Against per match, conceding just 8 times. These stats show that Al Ittihad have been one of the most efficient sides in the Saudi Pro League in the attacking and defending phases.
Al Ittihad’s Laurent Blanc, the October Manager of the Month, has a chance to jump to the top for at least 24 hours before Al Hilal plays.
Injury Report
Al Orobah have not reported any fresh injuries ahead of their home match on Thursday; they also do not have any suspension issues, which means Álvaro Pacheco will select from a full complement of the squad.
Laurent Blanc will deal with a few injury issues, with Ahmed Sharahili (cruciate ligament tear), Ahmed Bamasud (cruciate ligament tear), Luiz Felipe (thigh problems), and Karim Benzema (muscle stiffness).
Team News
Al Orobah are expected to stick with their attack led by Boateng, Al Ruqi, Al Rashidi, and Guðmundsson. The focus for Álvaro Pacheco will be to get his attack to click defensively and offensively to contain a strong Al Ittihad side.
The potential of Karim Benzema’s absence will be significant for Al Ittihad. The Frenchman missed the 1-0 over rivals Al Ahli Saudi in the derby. Laurent Blanc is likely to keep Al Shehri as the striker leading the line ahead of the triumvirate of Berwijn, Aouar, and Diaby.
Prediction
Al Ittihad, who have shown significant potency in attack and robustness and solidity at the back, are highly favored to win this match and heap pressure on Al Hilal at the top of the table.
