In-form Al Shabab will face a stern test when they welcome Al Hilal to the Al Shabab FC Stadium on Saturday for a one-on-one Saudi Pro League clash, with kickoff slated for 18:00 GMT+1.
Key Highlights
Al Shabab
Four matches without defeat (three wins and a draw) show that Al Shabab have hit fine form in the Saudi Pro League. This run of form has seen Vítor Pereira’s side rise on the table to 4th with 22 points, level with third-placed Al Nassr and six behind second-placed and their opponents on Saturday, Al Hilal.
Vítor Pereira and his charges will have a chance to cut the gap between them and Al Hilal down to three points as they look to press chances of making a play in the top end of the SPL.
Al Shabab have the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just seven goals in 11 matches. Their back-three of Renan, Hoedt, and Al-Sharari, alongside the base midfielders Aljuwayr and Cuellar, have been instrumental in making Al Shabab a solid and compact side.
Solidity will be crucial for Al Shabab as they come up against the best attacking side in the league, having plundered 29 goals in 11 matches. Vítor Pereira will also hope his side will retain their fast transitions and quick one-touch passing to penetrate behind Al Hilal’s defense.
Aleksandar Mitrovic and company will look for an immediate bounce-back to winning ways in the Saudi Pro League when they visit Al Shabab
Al Hilal
Jorge Jesus’s side have won nine times, drawn once, and lost once in 11 outings this season, hauling an impressive 28 points. Such is the tight competition at the top of the Pro League that this tally is only good for second on the table, two behind leaders Al Ittihad’s 30 points.
A combination of a sterling attack and a solid defensive side, having conceded 11 times in 11 matches, means that Al Hilal are still within touching distance of the leaders. They will look to pile on the pressure with a win at Al Shabab.
Jorge Jesus will look to use the full extent of the depth of his squad with a quick turnover from the AFC Champions League in midweek. However, main man Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to keep his place in attack as Al Hilal look to return to winning ways after the shocking 3-2 reverse at Al Khaleej.
Injury Report
Al Shabab will still be without Yannick Carrasco, who is a major miss for the home side as the 31-year-old continues his journey to return. Another big miss is center-forward Abderrazak Hamdallah, with the 33-year-old dealing with a muscle injury. Al Shabab will also be without Fahad Al-Muwallad and Seung-gry Kim.
Jorge Jesus will miss influential midfielder Ruben Neves as he continues nursing a ruptured patellar tendon. Right winger Malcolm is also a major injury doubt as the 27-year-old is unlikely to pass the fitness test in time for the trip to Al Shabab. Neymar (unregistered in the SPL) will continue his absence as well.
Team News
Vítor Pereira will likely retain the 3-4-1-2 formation that has made Al Shabab the hardest side to beat in the league. The twin attack of Podence and Bonaventura, with the support of Guanca, will likely continue when they face Al Hilal.
Juan has experimented with different tactical approaches. He went with a 3-4-2-1 formation in the AFC Champions League against Al Sadd, while he adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation in the 3-2 loss away to Al Khaleej. The latter formation will likely be restored, with Mitrovic, Al-Dawsari, and Al-Qahtani leading the attack and Kanno and Milinkovic-Savic patrolling the midfield.
Prediction
Al Shabab will make it difficult for Al Hilal to play, with an aggressive defensive approach and lightning-fast transition attacks. Al Hilal will dominate the ball and dictate the tempo of the match. Al Hilal have what it takes to eke out a narrow win on Saturday and return to winning form.
