Prediction Saudi Pro League - Al Ittihad vs Al Shabab

Saudi Pro League - Al Ittihad vs Al Shabab
Match Time: 27-04-2024 02:00 Saturday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Following a highly-disappointing 4-1 defeat to Saudi giants Al Hilal on April 11, Al Ittihad returned to Pro League action on Saturday and managed to collect a vital maximum, defeating Al Hazem at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

After a Saleh Al Jamaan opener and an own goal from Paulo Ricardo, Al Ittihad were pegged level due to strikes from Mohammed Al-Thani and Toze for Hazem, however it was the visitors who managed the last laugh in the end, with an own goal from Aymen Dahmen securing three points for Ittihad.

Following the collection of four points from their last three Pro League matches, Marcelo Gallardo's men currently occupy fourth position in the league standings with just six matches remaining of the 2023-24 term, sitting two points behind third-placed Al Ahli.

Since his high-profile switch from 14-time European champions Real Madrid, Karim Benzema has failed to hit the heights expected of him in the Middle East, finding the net on just nine occasions in 21 Pro League appearances, although the Frenchman has provided a respectable tally of seven assists.

Al Shabab extended their promising unbeaten run in the Pro League to three matches last Thursday, when Abha were the visitors and were subsequently hit for five at Al-Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh, where a player familiar to fans of the Belgium national team put in an exceptional display.

Former Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco bagged a goal either side of the half-time whistle during Shabab's most-recent success, whilst Carlos also managed to score a brace, with Habibou Diallo also getting onto the scoresheet versus relegation-threatened Abha.

Following three straight top-four finishes in the Pro League between 2021 and 2023, Vitor Pereira's men look set for a modest placement in comparison during 2024, with Friday's visitors lying in 11th place, 15 points behind fourth-placed Al Ittihad.

Al Shabab were victorious during the reverse fixture against Al Ittihad at the start of November 2023, when a solitary goal from Brazilian marksman Carlos was enough to seal maximum points.

Prediction: Al Ittihad 3-0 Al Shabab