MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 12:38:21| >> :120:64810:64810:
[monks data]
Saudi Pro League | Gameweek 11
Oct 27, 2023 at 7pm UK
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium

Al-Hilal
3 - 1
Al-Ahli

Milinkovic-Savic (1'), Mitrovic (37'), Ibanez (84' og.)
FT(HT: 2-0)
Saint-Maximin (58')
Ibanez (32'), Hindi (45+4'), Al-Asmari (88'), Kessie (90+1')

Preview: Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ahli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Saudi Pro League clash between Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The pick of the matches in gameweek 11 will see Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli face off at the King Fahd International Stadium on Friday evening.

Both sides have made very promising starts to the league season, and the hosts currently lead the standings with 26 points while the visitors are in fourth and four points behind them.


Match preview

Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their first goal on September 1, 2023© Reuters

After finishing third last season, Al-Hilal have begun the current campaign better than the rest and have already built up a three-point advantage over Al Taawon in second place after 10 matches.

The Blue Waves returned from the international break with a 1-0 win over Al Khaleej that kept their unbeaten league record this season intact, including eight wins and two draws, and they are also the only side in the top flight that are yet to lose a match.

Jorge Jesus's side followed that result with a dominant performance in the AFC Champions League in midweek, beating Indian Super League outfit Mumbai City 6-0 at home to maintain their lead in Group D.

Aleksandar Mitrovic bagged a hat-trick in that game, which was his sixth goal in his last five matches, and he is also the joint second-highest-scoring player in the league at present with seven to his name.

While the hosts will know this will not be an easy matchup, they will gain confidence from the fact that they did beat this opponent 4-2 the last time they met, and another win here will give them a sizeable lead over one of the sides that were tipped to challenge for the title this season.

Al Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle on September 22, 2023© Reuters

Meanwhile, Al-Ahli will also come into this match brimming with confidence after clinching a very good 1-0 win over Al-Ittihad before the break and followed up with a solid 3-1 win over Al Wehda last weekend.

Allan Saint-Maximin, Riyad Mahrez and Roger Ibanez all got on the scoresheet against Al Wehda and with those results, the visitors' record this season now reads as seven wins, one draw and two losses in 10 games, with 20 goals scored, and 14 conceded in that time.

While they would have liked to be slightly higher up the table, Matthias Jaissle will know that his side has the advantage of not being involved in continental competition, especially as we head closer to the busy part of the season.

The Royal's chances of lifting the title in their first season back in the top flight will rely heavily on their ability to overcome the likes of Al-Hilal, who they have failed to get the better of in their last four meetings (W0 D2 L2).

The visitors will go into this match as the underdogs, and while the hosts have the better record so far this season, Al-Ahli can certainly not be ruled out of this one just yet.

Al-Hilal Saudi Pro League form:


Al-Hilal form (all competitions):


Al-Ahli Saudi Pro League form:


Team News

Al Hilal's Neymar celebrates on September 15, 2023© Reuters

Jesus has only one injury absentee for this match in the form of Neymar, who is out with a serious cruciate ligament tear and is only expected to return next year.

Mitrovic is in a purple patch at the moment and will almost certainly continue in attack with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom and Salem Al-Dawsari in support, while Salman Al Faraj will be serving the final of his three-match ban in this one.

In the opposite dugout, Jaissle will have to make do without the services of defensive duo Merih Demiral (meniscus) and Abdullah Otayf (cruciate ligament tear), who are out with injuries.

Former Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski is ineligible for selection, which should see Bassam Al-Hurayji, Ibanez, Abdulbasit Hindi and Abdullah Al-Ammar make up the defensive line.


Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bono; Abdulhamid, Koulibaly, Al Bulaihi, Al-Shahrani; Kanno, Neves, Malcolm, Milinkovic-Savic, Al-Dawsari; Mitrovic

Al-Ahli possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Al-Hurayji, Ibanez, Hindi, Al-Ammar; Al-Majhad, Kessie, Mahrez, Veiga, Saint-Maximin; Firmino


SM words green background

We say: Al-Hilal 2-1 Al-Ahli

While the hosts have put up a few big scorelines already this season, most of those came on the road, while at home, they seem to have opted to remain defensively solid and see out games without too much fuss. This should be an entertaining match, but we feel Al-Hilal will claim the points and maintain their place at the top of the standings.



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


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


ID:527343:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12459:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Al-Hilal vs Al-Ahli

Al-Hilal
76.9%
Draw
11.5%
Al-Ahli
11.5%
26
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Neymar after the match on August 1, 2023
Read Next:
Neymar: 'Saudi Pro League is potentially better than Ligue 1'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Al-HilalAl-Hilal109102781928
2Al Ittihad109012481627
3Al-Nassr106402181322
4Al ShababAl Shabab10703146821
5Al Quadisiya10613137619
6Al Khaleej105141212016
7Al-TaawounAl-Taawoun10433119215
8Al-AhliAl-Ahli10424149514
9Al Riyadh104241315-214
10Damac103251618-211
11Al RaedAl Raed103251315-211
12Al Ettifaq10325915-611
13Al Orubah10316921-1210
14Al Okhdood102261114-38
15Al Kholood101451219-77
16Al Fayha10145719-127
17Al WahdaAl Wahda101361427-136
18Al Fateh10127818-105


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!