Al Taawoun go dey host Al Riyadh for Friday evening for Saudi Pro League matchday 33 for King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. The two sides dey for completely opposite ends of the table, and the match go be crucial for both.
Al Taawoun dey chase top-five finish, sitting with 52 points for sixth place, level with Al Ittihad wey get game in hand. Dem go fancy their chances to climb to fifth with only two matches remaining for the season. But dem come from a 2-1 home defeat to third-placed Al Ahli on Monday, where Ivan Toney and Roger Ibanez score for the visitors before Angelo Fulgini pull one back for the hosts.
Playing their second successive home game, Al Taawoun go dey eager to return to winning ways. Dem don lose three of their last five league outings, and their recent home record no give confidence. The side don collect 25 points for King Abdullah Sport City Stadium this season from seven wins, four draws and five defeats, and dem don concede 23 goals at home, more than the 20 wey dem ship for road.
Al Taawoun don fail to win six of their last seven league fixtures for home, raising questions about their ability to get the job done in front of their own supporters. But the opportunity to move above Al Ittihad into fifth place go serve as motivation, and coach Pericles Chamusca go know say two wins from two remaining games fit deliver a strong finish to the campaign.
Al Riyadh, for contrast, dey root for 16th place and deep in relegation battle. Dem know say only victories for their final two games fit keep them for Saudi Pro League. A 1-0 win over Al Fateh in their last outing, courtesy of Mamadou Sylla goal, provide a timely confidence boost. That result represent just the second win in their last five matches and only the sixth of their entire league campaign.
Mauricio Dulac side don record two wins, no draws and three defeats for their last five matches. Remarkably, dem never win back-to-back league games at any point this season. Their away record dey make grim reading too, with only two wins, three draws and 11 defeats on the road all season, a return of just nine points from their travels.
Victory on Friday go move Al Riyadh to 29 points and out of the relegation zone, provided Damac fail to win their own fixture. The two clubs currently dey level on 26 points but separated by goal difference: Damac dey at -23, Al Riyadh at -29.
The most recent meeting between the two sides end for 3-1 victory for Al Taawoun. Across the last five head-to-head encounters, the hosts don win two, Al Riyadh don win two, and one match end for draw.
Al Taawoun go dey look to forward Roger Martinez, wey don net 22 goals this season, to lead the charge as dem bid to climb the table. Midfielder Angelo Fulgini, wey score against Al Ahli, go also be central to the hosts’ attacking play alongside Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi. Andrei Girotto, Qassem Lajami and Mohammed Al Dossari go feature for defence, offering Chamusca a settled backline. Aschraf El Mahdioui go feature for midfield, with Flavio Silva also expected to play role for the engine room.
Al Riyadh go rely heavily on the goals of Mamadou Sylla, wey don contribute 10 this season, and the creativity of Toze, wey don register eight goals from midfield. Milan Borjan go start for goal, with Marzouq Tambakti and Yoann Barbet continuing for heart of the defence. Victor Lekhal, Ahmed Al Siyahi and Leandro Antunes go provide support for the middle of the park.
With only two away wins all season and yet to record back-to-back league victories at any point, Al Riyadh look unlikely to leave with anything from this one. The hosts get enough for the tank to see off a struggling side, and a narrow home win look the most likely outcome.
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