Two sides who have had contrasting starts to the 2023-24 Saudi Professional League campaign lock horns on Thursday as Damac play host to Al-Hilal at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.
The Blue Waves are the only unbeaten team after the first six rounds of matches and sit at the summit of the table while the hosts head into the game in search of their first win of the season.
Match preview
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Damac continue to struggle in the new Professional League campaign as they fell to a 4-2 loss against Al-Wehda when the sides met at the King Abdul Aziz Stadium last Thursday.
In a game where Noor Al-Rashidi received his marching orders in the 43rd minute, Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo netted a hat-trick to help the hosts snap their two-match losing streak.
Damac have now failed to win any of their opening six matches this season, losing three and picking up three draws, while they have gone eight straight league matches without a win since May's 1-0 victory over Abha.
Breaching opposing defences has not been a worry for Cosmin Contra's men this season as they have made the net ripple eight times in their opening six matches, with only eight teams scoring more.
However, their slow start to the campaign has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded 13 goals already and failed to keep a clean sheet so far.
While Damac will be looking to get their season up and running on Thursday, they face the stern challenge of taking on a high-flying Al-Hilal side who are unbeaten in seven of their last eight meetings, claiming five wins and two draws since October 2019.
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Elsewhere, Al-Hilal were denied a dream start to the 2023-24 AFC Champions League campaign as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Uzbekistan side Navbahor Namangan at the King Fahd International Stadium on Monday.
Despite dominating the game and seeing over 75% of the ball possession, Al-Hilal needed an equaliser from Ali Al-Boleahi in the 10th minute of stoppage time to cancel out Toma Tabatadze's 52nd-minute opener and force a share of the spoils.
Jorge Jesus's men now turn their attention to the Saudi Professional League, where they have enjoyed a superb start to the season, winning five of their opening six matches.
Al-Hilal have dropped points only once this season, which came on August 19, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Fayha courtesy of goals from Abdullah Al-Hamdan and Fashion Sakala for either side.
With 16 points from a possible 18, the Blue Waves currently lead the way at the top of the Saudi Professional League standings, one point above second-placed Al Ittihad.
Team News
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Damac will take to the pitch without defender Al-Rashidi, who will serve the first of his three-match suspension after picking up a first-half red card against Al-Wehda last time out.
In his absence, 28-year-old Sultan Faqihi should come into the starting XI, forming the back four with Dhari Al-Enezi, Farouk Chafai and Alhwsawi Sanousi Mohammed.
While superstar signing Neymar failed to make his mark in his AFC Champions League debut on Monday, we expect him to spearhead the Al-Hilal attack once again.
The former Paris Saint-Germain man, who recently became Brazil's all-time leading scorer, registered an assist on his Saudi Professional League debut against Al Riyadh on September 15 and should team up with Michael, Malcom and Aleksandar Mitrovic in the final third.
On the injury front, Al-Hilal will be without the services of experienced midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki, who has been out of action since January through a cruciate ligament rupture.
Damac possible starting lineup:
Hawswi; Al-Enezi, Chafai, Faqihi, Mohammed; Antolic, Hamed; N'Koudou, Stanciu, Al-Bishi; Ceecay
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bono; Al Shahrani, Al Bulayhi, Jahfali, Abdulhamid; Neves, Al Dawsari; Neymar, Malcolm, Michael; Mitrovic
We say: Damac 0-3 Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have flown out of the blocks this season and will be licking their lips as they go up against a floundering Damac side who are yet to pick up a win so far. Given the gulf in quality and depth between the two sides, we are backing the Blue Waves to ease to a comfortable victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
