League leaders Al-Hilal will likely be trying to prolong their good begin to the 2024-25 Saudi Professional League season once they welcome mid-table facet Al Fayha to the Kingdom Area on Friday.
The Blue Waves have been in scintillating kind to date this time period, successful all six of their opening fixtures, and so they’ll be assured of securing one other three factors in opposition to an opponent they’ve dominated in latest conferences.
Match Preview
Al-Hilal have been the group to beat within the Saudi high flight over the previous 12 months, sweeping to the home double final season earlier than carrying that momentum into the brand new marketing campaign.
Jorge Jesus’s males have wasted little time in establishing themselves because the frontrunners as soon as once more, opening up a three-point lead on the summit after the primary six rounds of fixtures.
The reigning champions have been rampant within the closing third, racking up 18 objectives already – half of which have come from the boot of star striker Aleksander Mitrovic. The Serbian marksman has been in sensational kind, netting braces in 4 of Al-Hilal’s six league outings to date, and he’ll be keen so as to add to his tally in opposition to a visiting defence that has struggled to maintain opponents at bay.
Whereas the hosts are closely fancied to safe one other snug victory, it’s price noting that Al Fayha have been the one facet to take factors off them final season, holding the champions to a 1-1 draw on the opening day.
Christos Kontis’s facet went on to attain their best-ever top-flight end of ninth, however they’ve made a considerably sluggish begin this time round and at the moment sit only one level above the relegation zone.
Head to Head
Al-Hilal have dominated this fixture lately, successful three of the final 4 conferences between the 2 groups and solely failing to attain two or extra objectives on one event.
The Blue Waves have outscored their opponents 7-1 in these matches, with Mitrovic notably having fun with going through Al Fayha – he’s netted 4 instances in opposition to them because the begin of final season.
Group Information
Al-Hilal will likely be with out the companies of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who sustained a muscle damage whereas representing Morocco throughout the worldwide break.
Neymar, who has but to characteristic this time period, is closing in on a return to motion however is unlikely to be concerned on this fixture.
For the guests, Henry Onyekuru stays sidelined with an damage and isn’t anticipated again till the brand new 12 months. Mohammed Al-Baqawi picked up a knock in Al Fayha’s final outing earlier than the break, so Makhir Saleh might deputise at right-back.
Prediction
Al-Hilal’s scintillating begin to the season, coupled with their dominance over Friday’s opponents in latest conferences, makes them overwhelming favourites to safe one other three factors.
Mitrovic’s medical kind in entrance of purpose ought to see the hosts comfortably overcome an Al Fayha facet that has struggled for objectives and consistency to date.
Betting Ideas
Al-Hilal ought to have little hassle in brushing apart their guests, and a cushty residence win appears to be like the more than likely final result.
The champions have been free-scoring this time period, so backing them to win with over 2.5 objectives within the recreation could possibly be a shrewd transfer. Mitrovic to attain at any time additionally seems a secure guess given his spectacular exploits in entrance of purpose.
