Crisis continues to engulf fallen 2018\/19 champions Al Nassr as they head into match-week eight of a tumultuous Saudi Professional League campaign.
\nA 100th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot against Ettifaq on Monday stopped the Riyadh giants hitting rock bottom. Saturday\u2019s visit of third-placed Al Ahli Jeddah offers another exacting test of their, questionable, current capabilities.
\nHere is a rundown, with\u00a0Wyscout\u2019s\u00a0help, of this round\u2019s trio of standout fixtures:
\nAL NASSR V AL AHLI JEDDAH (SATURDAY, 20:45)
\nAl Ahli Jeddah’s Omar Al Somah (r) against Al Faisaly (EPA).
\n2020\/21 couldn\u2019t be going much worse for Nassr and embattled boss Rui Vitoria.
\nAgonising defeat to Iran\u2019s depleted Persepolis both denied them a maiden spot in the AFC Champions League and initiated a spiral for the SPL\u2019s kick-off. A coronavirus outbreak, debilitating injuries and five losses from seven fixtures have followed for the troubled side with this season\u2019s lowest average age of 26.4.
\nThis descent would have been completed at home to Ettifaq, had it not been for Sami Al Najei and Abderrazak Hamdallah\u2019s late interventions. Still, Vitoria clings onto power and now faces opposition he\u2019s never lost to in five meetings.
\nAhli have troubles of their own, despite being nine points and 12 places better off. Saturday\u2019s startling 4-3 defeat to promoted Al Ain checked momentum, while talisman Omar Al Somah is set to be missing up top.
\nExpect an entertaining, but flawed, contest.
\nPrediction: Al Nassr 2-2 Al Ahli Jeddah
\nAL SHABAB V AL ITTIHAD (FRIDAY, 20:45)
\nEver Banega (r) during Al Shabab’s loss to Al Qadsiyah (EPA).
\nNassr have vacated their spot as champions Al Hilal\u2019s likeliest challengers.
\nClubs competing to take up the mantle clash in Riyadh this weekend.
\nHosts Shabab slipped to their first defeat of the season versus returning Al Qadsiyah, yet can still feel confident about tackling the challenges ahead. Makhete Diop\u2019s high-quality team goal in that defeat showcased coach Pedro Caixinha\u2019s ability to coax out improved quality.
\nA rise in average ball possession of almost 10 per cent has, also, been accrued from 2019\/20 without renowned Argentina conductor Ever Banega (47.6 per cent) and 2020\/21 with him (57.4 per cent).
\nOpponents Ittihad, meanwhile, exemplify the benefits of getting their transfer policy right, after years of expensive mistakes. Brazilian midfielder Bruno Henrique, on-loan Egypt centre-back Ahmed Hegazi and even Saudi Arabia veteran Omar Hawsawi have added necessary conviction to coach Fabio Carille\u2019s vision.
\n2019\/20\u2019s eight-leakiest defence is now this term\u2019s joint-third firmest.
\nIt will now be up to Henrique and Abdulellah Al Malki to disrupt Banega\u2019s flow. Do that and the Tigers will have, truly, rediscovered their roar.
\nPrediction: Al Shabab 0-1 Al Ittihad
\nAL AIN V AL QADSIYAH (FRIDAY, 16:35)
\nAl Ain players celebrate against Ettifaq (EPA).
\nPromoted sides reconvene hostilities in the top flight.
\nVisitors Al Qadsiyah and Al Ain rounded out the 2019\/20 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League\u2019s top three, behind winners Al Batin. Saturday\u2019s contest represents a first SPL meeting, with Al Ain going up for the first time \u2013 in contrast to regulars Qadsiyah who are back after a one-season absence.
\nThe clubs are separated by just three points and three points after Al Ain\u2019s three-match undefeated run propelled them out of the drop zone, into 13th. Qadsiyah prevailed at King Saud Sports City Stadium in September 2019, but with so many changes to each squad this fixture is no barometer.
\nWhat should interest Qadsiyah boss Yousef Al Mannai is the fact his side\u2019s expected goals against of 8.71 is significantly better than Al Ain\u2019s 11.52. They must now ensure this statistical superiority is reflected on the pitch.
\nPrediction: Al Ain 1-3 Al Qadsiyah
\nMATCH-WEEK EIGHT FIXTURES
\nFriday
\n16:35 Al Ain v Al Qadsiyah
\n18:50 Al Raed v Al Faisaly
\n20:45 Al Shabab v Al Ittihad
\nSaturday
\n16:35 Abha v Al Taawoun
\n18:25 Ettifaq v Damac
\n18:30 Al Fateh v Al Batin
\n20:45 Al Nassr v Al Ahli Jeddah
\nSunday
\n20:45 Al Hilal v Al Wehda<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Crisis continues to engulf fallen 2018\/19 champions Al Nassr as they head into match-week eight of a tumultuous Saudi Professional League campaign.
\nA 100th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot against Ettifaq on Monday stopped the Riyadh giants hitting rock bottom. Saturday\u2019s visit of third-placed Al Ahli Jeddah offers another exacting test of their, questionable, current capabilities.
\nHere is a rundown, with\u00a0Wyscout\u2019s\u00a0help, of this round\u2019s trio of standout fixtures:
\nAL NASSR V AL AHLI JEDDAH (SATURDAY, 20:45)
\nAl Ahli Jeddah\u2019s Omar Al Somah (r) against Al Faisaly (EPA).
\n2020\/21 couldn\u2019t be going much worse for Nassr and embattled boss Rui Vitoria.
\nAgonising defeat to Iran\u2019s depleted Persepolis both denied them a maiden spot in the AFC Champions League and initiated a spiral for the SPL\u2019s kick-off. A coronavirus outbreak, debilitating injuries and five losses from seven fixtures have followed for the troubled side with this season\u2019s lowest average age of 26.4.
\nThis descent would have been completed at home to Ettifaq, had it not been for Sami Al Najei and Abderrazak Hamdallah\u2019s late interventions. Still, Vitoria clings onto power and now faces opposition he\u2019s never lost to in five meetings.
\nAhli have troubles of their own, despite being nine points and 12 places better off. Saturday\u2019s startling 4-3 defeat to promoted Al Ain checked momentum, while talisman Omar Al Somah is set to be missing up top.
\nExpect an entertaining, but flawed, contest.
\nPrediction: Al Nassr 2-2 Al Ahli Jeddah
\nAL SHABAB V AL ITTIHAD (FRIDAY, 20:45)
\nEver Banega (r) during Al Shabab\u2019s loss to Al Qadsiyah (EPA).
\nNassr have vacated their spot as champions Al Hilal\u2019s likeliest challengers.
\nClubs competing to take up the mantle clash in Riyadh this weekend.
\nHosts Shabab slipped to their first defeat of the season versus returning Al Qadsiyah, yet can still feel confident about tackling the challenges ahead. Makhete Diop\u2019s high-quality team goal in that defeat showcased coach Pedro Caixinha\u2019s ability to coax out improved quality.
\nA rise in average ball possession of almost 10 per cent has, also, been accrued from 2019\/20 without renowned Argentina conductor Ever Banega (47.6 per cent) and 2020\/21 with him (57.4 per cent).
\nOpponents Ittihad, meanwhile, exemplify the benefits of getting their transfer policy right, after years of expensive mistakes. Brazilian midfielder Bruno Henrique, on-loan Egypt centre-back Ahmed Hegazi and even Saudi Arabia veteran Omar Hawsawi have added necessary conviction to coach Fabio Carille\u2019s vision.
\n2019\/20\u2019s eight-leakiest defence is now this term\u2019s joint-third firmest.
\nIt will now be up to Henrique and Abdulellah Al Malki to disrupt Banega\u2019s flow. Do that and the Tigers will have, truly, rediscovered their roar.
\nPrediction: Al Shabab 0-1 Al Ittihad
\nAL AIN V AL QADSIYAH (FRIDAY, 16:35)
\nAl Ain players celebrate against Ettifaq (EPA).
\nPromoted sides reconvene hostilities in the top flight.
\nVisitors Al Qadsiyah and Al Ain rounded out the 2019\/20 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League\u2019s top three, behind winners Al Batin. Saturday\u2019s contest represents a first SPL meeting, with Al Ain going up for the first time \u2013 in contrast to regulars Qadsiyah who are back after a one-season absence.
\nThe clubs are separated by just three points and three points after Al Ain\u2019s three-match undefeated run propelled them out of the drop zone, into 13th. Qadsiyah prevailed at King Saud Sports City Stadium in September 2019, but with so many changes to each squad this fixture is no barometer.
\nWhat should interest Qadsiyah boss Yousef Al Mannai is the fact his side\u2019s expected goals against of 8.71 is significantly better than Al Ain\u2019s 11.52. They must now ensure this statistical superiority is reflected on the pitch.
\nPrediction: Al Ain 1-3 Al Qadsiyah
\nMATCH-WEEK EIGHT FIXTURES
\nFriday
\n16:35 Al Ain v Al Qadsiyah
\n18:50 Al Raed v Al Faisaly
\n20:45 Al Shabab v Al Ittihad
\nSaturday
\n16:35 Abha v Al Taawoun
\n18:25 Ettifaq v Damac
\n18:30 Al Fateh v Al Batin
\n20:45 Al Nassr v Al Ahli Jeddah
\nSunday
\n20:45 Al Hilal v Al Wehda<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8453"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8453"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8454,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8453\/revisions\/8454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}