Preview: Damac vs. Al Raed

Sports Mole previews Monday’s Saudi Pro League clash between Damac and Al Raed, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Damac and Al Raed draw the curtain on their respective 2023-24 Saudi Pro League campaigns with a meeting at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Monday.

The hosts head into this one off the back of a disappointing defeat last time out, while their visitors had to make do with a stalemate.

Match preview
Damac were on the receiving end of a comprehensive 4-1 thrashing against Al Ittihad in Thursday’s encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City.

Cosmin Contra’s men went into the interval trailing to Jota’s opener after which second-half strikes from Talal Haji, Marwan Al Sahafi and Farhah Al Shamrani put the result beyond doubt before Farouk Chafai grabbed a late consolation.

Consequently, the Knights of the South remain 10th in the Saudi Pro League table, one point shy of Al Shabab in the race for a top-half finish.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to pick between the teams over the last six meetings, which have yielded three wins apiece.

Having won just one of seven home involvements leading up to Monday’s affair, the hosts have endured an abysmal time in front of their fans of late and will be keen to bounce back.

Al Raed played out a second share of the spoils in three matches in a goalless stalemate against Al Ahli SC on Thursday evening.

Igor Jovicevic’s men had their backs against the wall for large spells of the contest but put on a solid defensive display to come away with honours even.

Boasting 36 points from their 33 matches this term, the Buraidah-based side sit 12th in the standings, five points clear of the bottom three heading into the final matchday.

Off the back of a 1-0 victory in their last away clash, Monday’s visitors now go in search of a fourth win in six games on the road to to sign off on what has been a relatively decent campaign.

Damac Saudi Pro League form:

Al Raed Saudi Pro League form:

Team News
Romania international Nicolae Stanciu missed Damac’s defeat to Al Ittihad with a knock and remains a major doubt for Monday’s contest.

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou saw his goal drought extend to 11 matches last time out but is expected to retain his place in the hosts’ lineup.

Al Raed first-choice goalkeeper Andre Moreira is set to sit out a fourth straight game through an injury he sustained in the aftermath of a 2-0 loss to Al Shabab.

This should see 29-year-old Ahmad Al Harbi retain his starting spot between the sticks off the back of consecutive clean sheets.

Damac possible starting lineup:
Hawsawi; Al Anazi, Faqihi, Chafai, Al Rashidi, Al Hawsawi; Munshi, Hamed, Majrashi; Solan, N’Koudou

Al Raed possible starting lineup:
Al Harbi; Al Jayzani, Loum, Gonzalez, Al Fahad, Al Dossary; Fouzair, Al Subaie, Al Beshe; Sayoud, El Berkaoui

We say: Damac 1-1 Al Raed
Both teams have little to play for heading into this one, but we expect a keenly-contested game nonetheless. That said, we are backing the sides to cancel each other out and settle for a point apiece in the end.

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

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