Game Preview: Al Raed vs. Al Riyadh – Prediction, H2H, Lineups
Saudi Pro League Game: Al Raed vs. Al Riyadh Date: August 28th 2023 Time: 23:30 Hrs. Location: King Abdullah Sport City, Buraidh
Al Raed face Al Riyadh in round four of the Saudi Professional League on Monday, after suffering three defeats in their first three matches of the season.
Yannick Ferrera‘s men, on the other hand, arrive at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium having gone undefeated in their past 12 road games and will be seeking to prolong this outstanding record.
Al Raed were defeated 4-0 by Al-Hilal in the Saudi Professional League last Thursday, leaving them without a point in the new season.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, a newly signed striker, started the score in the 42nd minute before a second-half brace from Salem Al-Dawsari and Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s 89th-minute strike capped a fantastic team performance.
Igor Jovicevic’s side have lost three of their first three matches this season and have lost four of their previous five in all competitions, dating back to a goalless draw against Al-Khaleej on May 27.
Al Raed’s most recent victory came on May 15, when they defeated Damac 5-0 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, thanks to a hat-trick from 31-year-old Mohamed Fouzair and a brace from Karim El Berkaoui.
Raed Al Tahadi’s poor start to the season has been attributed to their troubles at the attacking end of the field, as they are the only team not to score in the first three games.
Follow: Saudi Pro League 2023-24 Fixture
In other news, Al Riyadh suffered their first defeat of the season last Thursday when they were beaten 4-0 by a powerful Al-Ittihad side.
Goals from Karim Benzema, and Saleh Al-Amri, and a first-half brace from Moroccan international Abderrazak Hamdallah helped the Tigers retain their perfect start to the season in a one-sided game at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
Before that, Ferrera’s side began their comeback to the top division with a 1-0 victory against Al-Wehda in the league opener on August 13, four days before drawing 2-2 with Damac.
Last season, Al Riyadh ended a 17-year absence from the Professional League by winning 19 and drawing six of their 34 second-tier matches to finish fourth in the rankings with 63 points.
The Riyadh-based club is unbeaten in their previous 12 road matches in all competitions, with 10 wins and two draws since a 2-1 loss against Al Hazem in October.
Team News
Al Raed will be missing summer signing Oumar Gonzalez, who will serve a one-match suspension after receiving a red card in Thursday’s loss to Al-Hilal.
Mubarak Al Rajeh might fill in for him, establishing a back four with Bander Whaeshi, Abdullah Al-Fahad, and Khalid Alsubaie, with former Atletico Madrid custodian Andre Moreira.
The hosts just signed Mathias Normann, and the former Norwich City midfielder might make his debut in the center of the park with Mansour Al Bishi and Porto loanee Mamadou Loum.
Al Riyadh, like Monday’s hosts, has a clean bill of health and no suspension problems, allowing Ferrera the luxury of a full-strength team at his disposal.
Saleh Al-Abbas, who came off the bench in the midweek loss to Al-Ittihad, could return to the starting lineup, making former Real Betis striker Juanmi question his place in the starting lineup.
Abbas has played a hand in all three of Al Riyadh’s goals this season and should form the front three alongside Ali Al-Zaqan and Knowledge Musona, while Birama Toure, Abdullah Al Khaibari, and Didier N’Dong will remain in midfield.
Al Raed’s possible starting lineup:
Moreira; Whaeshi, Al-Fahad, Al Rajeh, Alsubaie; Al-Dosari, Al Bishi, Loum, Sunbul; Saayoud, Tavares
Al Riyadh possible starting lineup:
Campana; Alnwaiqi, Asiri, Arslanagic, Tosca; Al Zaqan, Ndong, Toure, Al Khaibari; Al Abbas, Musona
Al Raed vs. Al Riyadh Prediction
While there was nothing Al Riyadh could do to stop a star-studded Al Ittihad team last Thursday, they will be hoping to rebound against a floundering Al Raed side that has lost their previous five matches in all competitions. We expect a tight game at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, with the visitors taking a slender victory
.
UPDATE: Half Time Score
Saudi pro League 2023-24 Al Raed Vs Al Riyadh Score update
Goals:
Mohamad Fouzair 18′, 45+2′
UPDATE: Final Score
Saudi pro League 2023-24 Al Raed Vs Al Riyadh Score update
Goals:
Mohamad Fouzair 18′, 45+2′ | Amir Sayoud 68′
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