The competitive action in the Saudi Pro League gets underway on Thursday. Al Ettifaq’s early season optimism has faded slightly in recent weeks after going two without a win.
However, they will be heavily expected to bounce back to form this week against an Al Raed side that has won just once in five outings this term.
All the pressure will be on the hosts, but will they be a successful Al Ettifaq vs. Al Raed prediction?
Odds: Hosts Expected to Gain Maximum Points
| Match Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Al Ettifaq | -204 |
| Draw | +325 |
| Al Raed | +490 |
Draws Rank High in Previous Meetings
| Total | Al Ettifaq | Al Raed | Draws | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 |
| Saudi Pro League Games | 29 | 12 | 6 | 11 |
| Goals | 77 | 46 | 31 |
Draws have been an incredibly popular outcome when these sides have collided previously. Both meetings last term ended level, while Al Ettifaq has recorded just one win in their last six against their opponents.
🚨⚽ TIP: Both teams have scored in five of the last six. (BTTS)
Team Updates
Al Ettifaq
Despite making a productive start to the season, there will be questions to answer for Al Ettifaq this weekend. The Saudi club have failed to win each of their last two, which has seen them drop to sixth in the standings.
Many expected Steven Gerrard’s side to bounce back to winning ways last weekend, but they could only play out a draw against the ten men of Al-Taawoun. Al Ettifaq’s blushes were spared following Moussa Dembele’s dramatic equalizer in second-half injury time.
Al Raed
Al Raed’s start to the season has been disappointing. They come into this midweek showdown on the road, having won just once in five league outings this term.
Their two-game winning run was brought to a shock end in the previous round of matches after suffering a 2-1 defeat on the road against Al-Shabab. Khalid Mohammed Al Subaie was sent off just after half time in that showdown, and he will be unavailable on Thursday.
Al Ettifaq vs. Al Raed Prediction
The trend of draws when these sides clash is incredibly hard to overlook.
Neither side arrives into this fixture with any momentum behind them, which means that the points being shared could be the most likely outcome.
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