When Al Khaleej Saihat welcomes the beleaguered Al Okhdood to Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on January 16, it's a match steeped in stakes that feel as sharp as they are high. With Al Khaleej sitting mid-table in ninth place, they're eyeing a potential climb into the upper echelons of the Pro League, riding the momentum of a recent 4-0 rout over Damac. Meanwhile, Al Okhdood languishes in 17th place with only five points to their name-just one win in their last thirteen outings-and the prospect of relegation looms larger than any Arabian desert sun.
Predicted Lineups:
Expect both teams to field formations reflective of their recent tactical setups: GK: Anthony Moris, DEF: Pedro Rebocho, Mohammed Al Khabrani, Bart Schenkeveld, Saeed Al Hamsal; MID: Dimitrios Kourbelis, Giorgos Masouras, Kostas Fortounis; FWD: Joshua King. For Al Okhdood: GK: Samuel, DEF: Ali Al Salem, Gökhan Gül, Naif Asiri; MID: Juan Pedroza, Petros; FWD: Blaž Kramer.
The contrasting trajectories of these two clubs couldn't be more apparent. Al Khaleej has found its groove recently-highlighted by impressive shot stats against competitors like Al-Ettifaq and Damac. They dominated possession with a staggering 67% ball control against Damac and produced a relentless attacking display that yielded an eye-popping 18 shots! On the other hand, you have Al Okhdood stumbling down the league table like someone desperately trying to keep their balance on a tightrope made of spaghetti. Their last encounter saw them fail to register a single shot on target against Al-Ahli Jeddah-a statistic that's about as grim as it gets for any team aspiring to compete at this level.
Delving deeper into the numbers reveals even more about what lies ahead. While Al Khaleej boasts multiple attackers capable of breaking through defenses-such as the explosive duo of Kostas Fortounis, who netted four goals this season alongside striker Joshua King, who's already bagged nine-their counterparts struggle to find consistency or finishing finesse. In fact, Al Okhdood have averaged less than six shots per game over their last few matches and sit at just one lonely goal from open play since early December.
Let's look at their defensive efforts: For all of Al Khaleej's attacking flair-exemplified by an admirable pass accuracy hovering around 83%-their defense isn't without holes. Despite higher expected goals (xG), they've still conceded 10 goals in their last five games. This could mean trouble if Al Okhdood can muster even half-decent finishing on those rare occasions they do push forward.
Conversely, when examining defensive statistics for Al Okhdood's backline anchored by players like Gökhan Gül and Ali Al Salem who both boast respectable tackle rates-yet collectively they have been porous enough to let in 21 goals this season alone-it tells us why fans may feel more anxiety than anticipation heading into this contest.
Tactically speaking, expect Al Khaleej to continue pressing high upfield and exploiting set pieces where they've shown strength recently with seven corner kicks against Damac compared to just two allowed! In stark contrast stands Al Okhdood, whose formation seems more concerned with limiting damage than generating chances-a retreating wall hoping not to crumble under siege from an inspired opponent.
Now let's pivot towards key players poised to impact this bout. For Al Khaleej, if Joshua King continues his run of form-netting multiple times recently-they should feel confident feeding him opportunities that his teammates create off midfield maestros like Masouras and Fortounis supporting attacks from behind. Conversely for Al Okhdood, all eyes will likely be glued onto Blaž Kramer-their lead striker looking for moments reminiscent of past glories while grasping for help from fellow midfielder Petros who remains crucial in linking up play despite minimal support so far this season.
As I wrap up these thoughts wrapped tightly together like a perfectly executed counterattack...here's what I'm forecasting: You're looking at an inspired performance from Al Khaleej. With their engines revved up and opponents potentially reeling from another bleak showing across town-the odds favor an emphatic victory here by multiple goals unless something drastic changes overnight within Al Okhdood. Don't be surprised if we see final figures tipping toward something resembling 3-1 or even greater given recent scoring trends!
So there you have it: buckle up for what promises to be both revealing and potentially decisive as two vastly different teams clash under floodlights next week. A must-watch affair even if just to gauge whether one side can finally find its footing amid looming uncertainty!