Saudi Pro League: Al Hilal vs Damac: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :March 14, 2024 at 4:26 PM

Modified at :March 14, 2024 at 4:26 PM

Al Hilal achieved a world record for consecutive victories following their triumph over Al Ittihad

The home team come into this match riding an impressive wave of form, having remained undefeated in competitive football since August 2023, with no opponent even coming close to ending their streak. Al Hilal have clinched victory in each of their last five matches, scoring 12 goals while conceding just two.

Their most recent triumph was a hard-fought 2-0 win against reigning champions Al-Ittihad. With a commanding 12-point lead over second-placed Al Nassr, they are well on their way to securing the title long before the season concludes.

On the flip side, the away team arrives at this fixture following a recent spell of poor form. They ended a five-game winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Wehda in their previous outing.

However, prior to that win, Damac suffered defeats in four of their five matches, managing to score only once while conceding six goals. Currently situated in sixth place in the Saudi Pro League standings with 34 points, they trail Al-Taawoun by five points. A victory would be crucial for their aspirations to climb higher up the table.

Kick-off:

Sunday, 17 March 2024 at 7:00 PM GMT (12:30 AM IST)

Location: Kingdom Arena

Form:

Al Hilal (in call competitions): W-W-W-W-W

Damac (in all competitions): L-L-D-L-W

Players to watch

Aleksander Mitrovic (Al Hilal)

Aleksandar Mitrovic epitomizes the traits of a classic and formidable striker, showcasing expertise in holding up play with his back to the goal and adeptly positioning himself in goal-scoring zones. While he is acclaimed for his effectiveness in aerial battles, owing to his physical stature and strength, Mitrovic’s ability to craft scoring opportunities within the penalty area is often overlooked. He currently tops the scoring charts in Al Hilal’s squad.

Nkoudou (Damac):

N’Koudou has increased his tally to 15 goals and 4 assists in the 21 appearances he has made for Damac this season. He is expected to maintain his role in the attacking lineup, despite being signed on a free transfer last summer, N’Koudou has demonstrated himself to be a dependable asset on the wing for the club. He is a fast, hard-working winger who loves to run with the ball and take on defenders.

Match facts:

The last time Al Hilal played a game without winning it was in the second part of September of last year.
AL Hilal haven’t lost a game all season.
Damac have won once in the past five games.

Injury and Team news for Al Hilal vs Damac:

Manager Jorge Jesus will have to contend with just one injury concern, that of Neymar. The Brazilian forward sustained damage to his cruciate ligaments in October 2023 and has been sidelined since. Aleksandar Mitrovic is the sole player at risk of suspension, having accumulated four yellow cards earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Damac manager Cosmin Contra will have a fully fit squad at his disposal for their upcoming match. The only absentee will be goalkeeper Moustapha Zegba, who received a straight red card in the defeat against Al-Ettifaq. Zegba has already served one of his three-game suspension and will miss the matches against Al Hilal and Al-Khaleej.

Head to Head:

Total Matches – 9

Al Hilal wins – 5

Damac wins – 1

Draws – 3

Predicted Lineup for Al Hilal vs Damac:

Al Hilal predicted lineup:

Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Koulibaly, Albulayhi, Al-Shahrani; Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, Al-Faraj; Malcom, Mitrovic, Al-Dawsari

Damac predicted lineup:

Hawsawi; Mohammed, Al-Rashidi, Bedrane, Al-Enezi; Hamed, Antolic; Zain, Stanciu, N’Koudou; Al-Shahrani

Match prediction for Al Hilal vs Damac:

Given the consistent exceptional form of Al Hilal over recent months, they typically step into most matches as the favored team. It’s largely up to their opponents to alter this narrative through their performances, yet many have struggled to do so.

In this upcoming match, the outcome seems clear-cut: it will heavily favor the hosts. While Damac may pose a threat in terms of scoring and could potentially secure a goal, it’s improbable that they will leave with anything more than that.

Prediction: Al Hilal 3-1 Damac

Telecast:

India – Sony Liv, Sony Sports Network

UK – Sky Sports

US – ESPN

Nigeria – Sporty TV

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