Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — Al Ittihad dey on brink to win dem first Saudi Pro League title dis season as dem prepare to face relegated Al Raed on Thursday evening at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. If dem win, plus Al Hilal misstep, dem go secure the championship before the final whistle.
Al Ittihad currently dey sit six points clear at the top of the league table after dem dismantled Al Fayha 3-0 in dem last game, wey see Karim Benzema score two goals and one own goal from di opposition side. With three matches left for dem play, victory for Ittihad fit confirm dem as champions.
Al Raed on di other hand don already secure dem relegation after dem lose 1-0 to Damak last weekend, leaving dem bottom of di table with only 21 points from 31 matches out of 31. Dem don suffer 22 losses, six wins and three draws dis season, making am clear say dem don finish for di top flight for now.
Coach Nabil Maaloul don try motivate di team, but dem no fit win for di last ten home matches, losing nine and drawing one. Dem miss dem last home win since mid-November, and dis go make am hard for dem to shift di momentum as dem face a top side like Al Ittihad.
“We get to focus for dis match and treat am like every other important game. E no go easy, but we go give our best,” Maaloul talk wey he dey prepare for di clash.
Statistics show say Al Raed don concede more than two goals in eight out of dem last ten league matches. Their recent form against Al Ittihad no dey impressive either, winning only twice from 17 home matches, which dey put dem in a precarious position.
Al Ittihad go enter dis match with almost everyone fit, as dem only miss midfielder Muhammad Kanu wey dey recover from surgery. Benzema, wey dey chase di golden boot title, fit score more goals as e don already net 19 dis season, just four short of Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr.
Al Ittihad coach Nuno Espírito Santo expect a strong performance from his team as they aim to ensure dem don fulfill di title dream. “We dey play for di title, every match important, and we believe say we go get di three points,” he say.
Al Raed’s possible starting lineup go include Moreira; Al-Rajeh, Gonzalez, Qasmi, Al Jayzani; Hazazi, Abeid, Al Amri; Al Hawsawi, El Berkaoui, Bouzok. On di side of Al Ittihad, dem expect to field Rajkovic; Al Shanqeeti, Al Mousa, Kadish, Mitaj; Kante, Fabinho; Al Obud, Aouar, Diaby; Benzema.
With all di pressure dey on Ittihad to secure di title, di fans dey expect a solid performance as dem dey ready to reign supreme in di Saudi Pro League.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
