Sports Mole previews Friday’s Saudi Pro League clash between Al Tai and Abha, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat, Al Tai welcome Abha to Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa’ed Stadium on Friday round five of the 2023 Saudi Pro League season.
On the other hand, the visitors make the trip to Ha’il aiming to pick up back to back victories for the first time in 2023 having recently returned to winning ways.
Match preview
Al Tai came away empty-handed from the third game running following a 2-0 defeat against Al Ahli SC at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium on Tuesday.
Kresimir Rezic’s men fell behind to Riyad Mahrez’s opener six minutes before half time after which Franck Kessie put the result beyond doubt just shy of the hour mark.
Consequently, the Knights of The North have slipped down to 14th place in the Saudi Pro League table, just one point above relegation danger.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have suffered defeat in just one of the last five editions of this fixture across all competitions.
However, that solitary loss did come in the most recent encounter back in April when Friday’s hosts battled hard en route to a 1-0 victory.
Abha picked up a second home win in a row as they narrowly saw off the threat of Al Feiha at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Monday.
Goals in either half from Karl Toko Ekambi and Ahmed Jaber put Otakar Dolejs’s men in the driving seat after which Fashion Sakala pulled one back three minutes from time.
Al Tai Saudi Pro League form:
Abha Saudi Pro League form:
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Team News
Alfa Semedo is ineligible to play any part in this one having received his marching orders in the first half of Al Tai’s defeat to Al Ahli.
This should see midfielder Abdulaziz Al Harabi come into the hosts’ XI for what would be only his second starting appearance of the campaign.
Abha’s Karl Toko Ekambi is set to retain his place in the lineup here off the back of a debut to remember where he found the back of the net.
Poland international Grzegorz Krychowiak is a doubt for the visitors after coming off with an injury scare against Al Feiha last time out.
Should Krychowiak be deemed unfit to participate, 30-year-old Ahmad Jamal will be expected to get the nod to feature from the off this time around. Al Tai possible starting lineup:Braga; Salem, Roco, Bauer, Alnakhli; Al Harabi; Misidjan, Al Qunaian, Abdullah, Cordea; Al Hazzaa
Abha possible starting lineup:Tatarusanu; Al Qumayzi, Noguera, Al Sudani, Naji; Jumayah, Matic, Jamal, Kamano; Jaber, Toko Ekambi
We say: Al Tai 1-1 Abha
Al Tai have been poor in front of goal recently but we are backing them to find the back of the net here. That said, we can also see the hosts failing to keep a clean sheet for a fourth straight game and having to settle for a share of the spoils.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data
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