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Can Al Ettifaq crash the Kingdom Arena party and squeeze the title race even tighter? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Read Rationale ▾
Al-Hilal are dominant at Kingdom Arena, winning seven consecutive home meetings against Al Ettifaq. With Benzema revitalised after his hat-trick and the hosts averaging nearly 17 shots per game, they possess sufficient firepower to overcome a visiting side that concedes an average of 1.78 goals on their travels.
Read Rationale ▾
While Al-Hilal are superior, Al Ettifaq’s strong recent form—four wins in six—suggests they can exploit any defensive lapses during the hosts’ high-possession play. A 3-1 scoreline reflects Al-Hilal’s offensive volume (53 goals scored) while acknowledging the visitors’ tactical efficiency and Al-Hilal’s recent winless league run.
Readers’ Tip
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Al-Hilal lead the Saudi Pro League by a point and host in-form Al Ettifaq at Kingdom Arena. The mood has shifted from runaway momentum to shoulder-checking the table after a three-match winless run.
Al-Hilal vs Al Ettifaq — Market Snapshot
Key statistical insights and market indicators for this Saudi Pro League top-six clash.
Al-Hilal have won all but one of their last 12 home matches, making them heavy favourites at Kingdom Arena.
Al-Hilal’s high shot volume of 16.87 per game suggests a high-scoring contest is likely against the visitors.
A 2-0 win for the hosts is historically supported by Al-Hilal’s seven straight home league wins over Ettifaq.
Al-Hilal’s 61% average possession allows them to control the tempo and pin Ettifaq deep into their own half.
Match Preview
Friday at 15:25, the Kingdom Arena hosts a fixture that screams “top-end pressure.” Al-Hilal are leading the Saudi Pro League by the thinnest of margins, and the mood has shifted fast — from runaway momentum to shoulder-checking the table after a three-match winless run.
Then came the reset button: Karim Benzema arrived and instantly lit the place up with a hat-trick on debut in a 6–0 demolition of Al-Okhdood. That’s the spark; now comes the test.
Al Ettifaq, sixth and hunting the top three, don’t travel to admire the stadium. Saad Ali Al Shehri brings a side with bite, a recent run of wins, and enough away confidence to make Al-Hilal work for every inch.
Attacking Volume: Shots per Game
A comparison of the offensive pressure exerted by both teams throughout the current Saudi Pro League campaign.
Their territorial dominance translates into a significant volume of goal attempts at the Kingdom Arena.
The visitors rely on a more structured approach, focusing on transition efficiency rather than total volume.
Defensive Shield: Clean Sheet Frequency
Visualising the defensive reliability of the top-six rivals in domestic competition.
Solid structural control has allowed them to shut out opponents in over half of their fixtures.
While disciplined, they have conceded an average of 1.78 goals in away fixtures.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Al-Hilal – injuries/absences
- Hamad Al Yami (unknown injury)
Al Ettifaq – injuries/absences
- No injuries or suspensions listed.
Al-Hilal possible XI
Bounou; Al Yami, Koulibaly, Lajami, Hernandez; Milinkovic-Savic, Neves, N. Al-Dawsari; Malcolm, Benzema, S. Al-Dawsari
Al Ettifaq possible XI
Rodak; Calvo, Hindi, Hendry, Al Otaibi; Costa, Medran, Ali, Wijnaldum; Al-Ghannam, Kouka
Tale of the Tape
| Metric | Al-Hilal | Al Ettifaq |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 1st | 6th |
| Points | 50 | 35 |
| League record (W-D-L) | 15-5-0 | 10-5-5 |
| Goals (GF/GA) | 53 / 18 CLINICAL | 30 / 30 |
| Avg shots per game | 16.87 | 10.05 |
| Possession | 61% | 50% |
| Corners per game | 6.7 | 3.86 |
| Clean sheets | 13 | 7 |
The shape of this match is obvious: Al-Hilal should have the ball, the territory, and the shot count. Al Ettifaq need efficiency — fewer attacks, but cleaner ones, and a defensive plan that survives long spells without it.
Tactical Analysis
Al-Hilal’s plan: squeeze, swarm, and overload the final third
Simone Inzaghi has a side built to pin teams back. The numbers scream control: 61% possession, over 523 passes per game, and a heavy flow of dangerous attacks (56.67 per match).
That matters because Al Ettifaq’s defensive profile is balanced on a knife-edge — 30 scored, 30 conceded. If Al-Hilal turn this into wave after wave, the visitors will spend long spells defending their box and living off clearances.
The Benzema effect changes the whole feel. A debut hat-trick isn’t just goals; it’s belief, movement, and a reference point. With Malcolm and Salem Al Dawsari around him, Al-Hilal can attack the same space twice: one run to drag, the next to finish. Expect quick combinations once Al Ettifaq’s back line gets stretched.
Al Ettifaq’s route: stay compact, then break with purpose
Al Ettifaq arrive in good domestic form — four wins in six league matches — and they’ve looked comfortable away recently, winning 67% of their last six on the road. That’s not a team arriving to hide.
Their best path is to make Al-Hilal impatient. Slow the game, frustrate early, then spring forward through midfield runners. Georginio Wijnaldum gives them a platform to connect phases, while the back line — Calvo, Hendry, and company — must win headers and second balls under constant pressure.
But here’s the danger: the trend line says Al Ettifaq concede heavily away on average (1.78). If Al-Hilal score early, the whole away plan gets ripped up.
Key Elements to Watch
- First 20 minutes: Al-Hilal’s recent winless streak was built on draws; an early goal changes the tone and forces Al Ettifaq into risk.
- Benzema’s link play: If Benzema pins the centre-backs and brings runners into play, Al Ettifaq’s midfield shield gets dragged out of shape.
- Set-piece pressure: Al-Hilal’s corner volume (6.7 per game) can turn into sustained stress, even when open play stalls.
- Away resilience: Al Ettifaq have been strong on the road lately, but their away goals-against trend (1.78 conceded on average) is a flashing warning light.
Title Race Tension
- Al-Hilal sit top on 50 points, only one point clear, after a three-game winless streak that suddenly made every dropped point feel louder.
- Al-Hilal have won all but one of their last 12 matches at the Kingdom Arena, and they’ve also won their last seven home league meetings with Al Ettifaq.
- Al-Hilal average 16.87 shots and 61% possession, while Al Ettifaq take 10.05 shots with 50% possession but arrive with four wins in six league games.
🎯 Match Result & Goals
This market combines the final winner with the total goals scored. It is a popular choice for increasing the potential return on a heavy favourite by requiring a minimum goal threshold (e.g., 3 goals for Over 2.5).
🎯 Correct Score
A high-volatility market requiring the exact final scoreline. While offering higher prices, it carries significant risk as a single late goal can invalidate the selection regardless of the match winner.
📊 Tactical Rationale: Al-Hilal vs Al Ettifaq
Al-Hilal enter this fixture with significant home momentum, having won seven consecutive home league matches against Al Ettifaq. Despite a recent three-game winless run, the arrival of Karim Benzema has provided a necessary attacking spark, evidenced by his debut hat-trick. The hosts’ statistical dominance is reflected in their 61% average possession and a high volume of 16.87 shots per game. This territorial control often translates into sustained pressure and high-scoring outcomes, making a victory combined with Over 2.5 goals a plausible scenario. Al Ettifaq, while disciplined, concede an average of 1.78 goals away from home, which may struggle to contain the multi-faceted attack of Malcolm, Salem Al Dawsari, and Benzema.
⚔️ Tactical Indicators
- Al-Hilal possess a superior home record with 11 wins in 12 matches at Kingdom Arena.
- Average shot volume for the hosts sits at 16.87 per match compared to 10.05 for visitors.
- The Benzema effect: A debut hat-trick has revitalised the offensive focal point for the league leaders.
Risk Factor: Al-Hilal recently experienced a three-match winless streak, showing vulnerability when dominance fails to yield early clinical finishing.
🎯 Correct Score Analysis: 3-1
A 3-1 scoreline is grounded in the contrasting home and away trends of both sides. Al-Hilal have scored 53 league goals this season and are likely to exploit an Al Ettifaq defence that is breached more frequently on the road. However, Al Ettifaq are far from pushovers, having won four of their last six league games. With Georginio Wijnaldum providing a bridge between phases and the visitors maintaining 50% possession, they have the quality to catch Al-Hilal on the counter-attack, especially if the hosts over-commit in their search for goals. This scoreline acknowledges Al-Hilal’s eventual superiority while respecting Al Ettifaq’s efficiency in front of goal.
The combination of high home output and away defensive lapses makes a multi-goal margin likely.
Risk Factor: If Al Ettifaq’s defensive block remains unbroken in the first 30 minutes, the game may result in a lower-scoring outcome.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Averaging 16.87 shots and 6.7 corners per match, forcing constant box defending.
Conceding 1.78 goals on average per away game, struggling under sustained pressure.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
⊕ What does “Match Result & Over 2.5 Goals” mean?
⊕ Why is Al-Hilal such a heavy favourite?
⊕ Can Al Ettifaq cause an upset?
⊕ How does the “Correct Score” market work?
⊕ Does Benzema’s arrival impact the betting market?
⊕ What are the risks of betting on Al-Hilal at low odds?
⊕ What happens if a player like Al Yami is injured?
⊕ Are these predictions guaranteed to win?
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Last Odds Update: Feb 10, 14:20 GMT | Editorial Policy
