Competition: Saudi Pro League
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 7/10 @ 1xBet
Two camps who will be looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Thursday afternoon, Al-Shabab will welcome Al-Khaleej to Riyadh.
Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to losing ways last week as they fell to a 3-1 loss against Al-Ettifaq, Al-Shabab have continued to show some real inconstancies this season. Getting the New Year underway with an action-packed 3-2 defeat against Saudi giants Al-Ahil, Faith Terim’s side have drastically failed to find any kind of stability. Mustering just a pair of victories from any of their previous eight consecutive Pro League appearances – a run that stems back to November 7th – the Whites are also seeking some crucial defensive steel. Including a 2-1 defeat against Al-Ittihad last month, Thursday’s hosts are without a clean sheet from any of their previous nine matchups across all competitions. Likewise, failing to muster back-to-back Pro League clean sheets since the start of November, Al-Shabab almost find themselves sat in top-flight limbo. However, despite their inconsistencies, it should be highlighted that Terim’s men have won their last three showdowns in Riyadh by a 2-1 scoreline.
As for the visitors, although Al-Khaleej might open Thursday’s trip to Riyadh pencilled in as a real underdog contender, the Pearls are enjoying what has been an impressive recent flurry. Despite eventually settling for a 1-1 stalemate at home against Damac last weekend, Georgios Donis’ side have lost just one of their previous five Pro League appearances. With a 3-1 defeat against Al-Nassr on January 21st their only top-flight defeat since opening the New Year, Thursday’s guests have dragged themselves away from a looming relegation scrap. Getting 2025 underway with a frantic 2-2 draw away at Al-Riyadh, the Pearls will also be excited by their extended success outside of Saint. In fact, Al-Khaleej have suffered just a single Pro League defeat on their travels since a 4-1 defeat against Al-Ittihad on September 27th. It should be noted, with the Yellows seeing six of their last seven away fixtures finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome here.
Bet: Both teams to score at Al-Shabab vs Al-Khaleej 7/10 for Thursday’s Saudi Pro League matchup @ 1xBet
