Al Shabab and Al Hilal, two powerhouses of the Saudi Pro League, are set to face off in a highly anticipated matchday 12 clash on Saturday. The home side, Al Shabab, is coming off a 1-1 draw away to Al Okhdood, where Naif Asiri’s own goal in first-half injury time was cancelled out by Knowledge Musona’s equalizer in the second half.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal, who share the same venue, also drew 1-1 in their previous game, away to Al Saad in the AFC Champions League. Ali Al Bulayhi put them ahead in the 10th minute, but Paulo Otavio’s equalizer with 19 minutes left on the clock denied them the three points. The Blue Wave’s last game saw them suffer a 3-2 defeat away to Al Khaleej, which saw them drop to second spot in the table with 28 points from 11 games. Al Shabab, on the other hand, are fourth on 22 points.
The head-to-head statistics between the two teams are in favor of Al Hilal, who have won 37 times in 65 meetings, with Al Shabab having emerged victorious 12 times. Four of their last six competitive games have witnessed goals at both ends, indicating a high-scoring affair is likely. Al Shabab, however, are unbeaten in their last five competitive games, although four of their five home games this season have been decided by a one-goal margin.
Despite their recent draw, Al Hilal’s 18-game unbeaten start to the season across competitions came to an end against Al Khaleej, which saw them drop into second spot behind Al Ittihad in their quest to successfully defend their league crown. Jorge Jesus’ side will be looking to bounce back from that defeat and regain their momentum.
This weekend’s encounter is expected to be a closely contested game, with both teams likely to create scoring opportunities. Our prediction is that Al Hilal will claim a comfortable win with goals at both ends, although Al Shabab could pull one back. The away side’s clinical finishing and experience in big games could be the deciding factors.
In terms of betting tips, we recommend backing Al Hilal to win, both teams to score, and over 2.5 goals. Additionally, you can consider Al Hilal scoring over 1.5 goals, given their prolific attacking lineage with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinković-Savić leading the charge.
