Saudi football fans will turn their attention this Friday evening to the “Ego” stadium in Dammam, where the first football team of Al-Ettifaq Club will host its counterpart Al-Akhdoud, as part of the competitions of the thirteenth round of the Saudi Professional League, in a match that carries different ambitions between the desire to advance towards the golden square and escape from the specter of relegation.
Agreement ambitions and the unbeaten streak
Al-Ettifaq enters the match with high morale and a strong desire to continue their positive run of form, having maintained an unbeaten record in the last five rounds. This match holds particular importance for Al-Ettifaq, especially after their heroic performance in the previous round against league leaders Al-Nassr, where they secured a draw and a valuable point, demonstrating the improvement in both their defensive and offensive systems.
Al-Ettifaq currently sits in eighth place in the league standings with 16 points, accumulated from four wins, four draws, and three losses. The team's coaching staff aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to secure a victory today, which would give the team a significant boost in their quest to climb the table and compete for continental qualification.
The trench and the struggle for survival
In contrast, Al-Akhdoud is experiencing a difficult situation, currently sitting in 17th place (second to last) in the league standings. The team has only managed one win and two draws, while suffering eight defeats. Although Al-Akhdoud has shown glimpses of good form in some previous matches, the results have not reflected their performances, putting the team under immense pressure to return from Dammam with a positive result to get back on track and avoid getting caught up in the complex relegation battle early on.
History of key matches and absences
Historically, the two teams have met four times in the Professional League, with Al-Ettifaq holding a slight edge, having won two matches compared to Al-Akhdoud's single victory, while one match ended in a draw. Al-Ettifaq's attack has been more dominant, scoring four goals, while Al-Akhdoud has only managed two.
In terms of lineups, both teams face challenges due to international absences and injuries. Al-Ettifaq will be without their South African star, Mohau Nkota, who is on international duty, but they will rely on a squad of stars led by veteran Dutch captain Georginio Wijnaldum, Spaniard Álvaro Medrán, and French striker Moussa Dembélé. Al-Akhdoud, on the other hand, will be missing their German star, Khalid Nari, due to injury, and Cameroonian Christian Bassogog, who is on international duty. The team will depend on the experience of Brazilian Petros and goalkeeper Samuel Lima to try and pull off an upset.
