Preview: Al Tai vs. Al Ettifaq

Sports Mole previews Friday’s Saudi Pro League clash between Al Tai and Al Ettifaq, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Round 24 of the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season sees Al Tai and Al Ettifaq face off at the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Masaad Stadium on Friday.

Both teams head into this one off the back of respective victories last time out and they will be looking to pick up where they left off.

Match preview
© Reuters

Al Ettifaq ran out emphatic 3-0 winners against Abha when the sides faced off at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Steven Gerrard’s men opened the scoring via a Grzegorz Krychowiak own goal after which strikes from Karl Toko Ekambi and Moussa Dembele sealed the deal.

As a result, The Knights of Ad-Dahna have moved up to seventh place in the Saudi Pro League table, albeit still a long way off continental qualification.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost just one of the last five editions of this fixture, coming out on top in the other four.

However, that solitary defeat did come in this season’s reverse meeting back in September when Friday’s visitors claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory.

Al Tai picked up a first win of 2024 as they got the better of Al Hazem courtesy of a 1-0 triumph at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium on Friday.

Laurențiu Reghecampf’s men made a bright start to the contest and took the lead through Bernard Mensah’s opener which turned out to be the all-important moment.

With 21 points from 23 matches so far, the Knights of The North sit 16th in the standings, just two points adrift of Al Riyadh in the battle for survival.

Fresh from ending a three-game home losing streak, Friday’s hosts now go in search of consecutive wins in front of their fans for the first time since August.

Al Tai Saudi Pro League form:

Al Ettifaq Saudi Pro League form:

Team News
Bernard Mensah has found the back of the net in each of his last two home outings for Al Tai and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Chile international Enzo Roco will be expected to retain his place in the hosts’ starting lineup having returned to action against Al Hazem.

Following his clincher last time out, Al Ettifaq’s Moussa Dembele is now up to nine goals in 16 league matches, making him one to keep an eye on here.

Thirty-year-old Robin Quaison remains unavailable for the away side as he continues to nurse a knee problem which has seen him miss five straight matches.

Al Tai possible starting lineup:
Al Baqaawi; Alnakhli, Bauer, Roco, Aljohani; Alfa, Mensah; Cordea, Shamlan, Misidjan; Dugandzic

Al Ettifaq possible starting lineup:
Victor; Al Otaibi, Hendry, Madu, Al Shamrani; Fofana, Wijnaldum; Ekambi, Medran, Gray; Dembele

We say: Al Tai 0-2 Al Ettifaq
With four clean sheets from their last five matches, Al Ettifaq have been solid defensively of late and we expect that to continue here. We are also backing the visitors to secure maximum points come the end of the 90 minutes.

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

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