Al-Ittihad vs Al-Ettifaq Dammam Best odds and tips

Al-Ittihad are the runaway leaders in the Profesional League 2024/2025 after collecting 65 points from 27 games, and are worthy favourites for Monday’s clash with Al-Ettifaq Dammam at 2.10. Laurent Blanc has done a superb job since taking over in July 2024, instilling a tactical discipline and control that has seen his side dominate the division. Al-Ittihad play proactive, possession-based football, using the width of the pitch to stretch opponents and maintaining their shape when out of possession. Karim Benzema is their main star with 17 goals in 24 league games, but they have a number of other stars that make them tick. Igor Coronado is the midfield maestro who can pick out a pass and dictate the tempo, and centre-back Ahmed Hegazi is a leader and a key man at the back.

Al-Ettifaq Dammam, by contrast, are a pragmatic side who set up to be compact and react to the game in front of them. Saad Al-Shehri took charge of Al-Ettifaq Dammam in January 2025 and has made them a tough team to beat by adding defensive resilience to their game. Gini Wijnaldum leads the attack with 11 league goals in 27 games, but he is more of a driver from midfield, while Robin Quaison is the one who can unlock the defence with his movement and finishing. Al-Ettifaq Dammam are 8th in the table with 37 points from 27 games, and they are eyeing a top-half finish or an outside shot at continental qualification. They have been solid, but not spectacular, on their travels this season, winning seven of their 14 away fixtures and averaging 1.57 goals scored and 1.00 conceded per game.

Ittihad are the deserved favourites for this game, but Al-Ettifaq are no pushovers and their away form this season suggests they will not be easy to break down. Al-Ittihad have not lost at home all season in the league and have won 13 of their 14 games, while Al-Ettifaq have won seven of their 14 away fixtures (D6, L1). The last meeting between these two sides was in the league four months ago and Al-Ittihad won 4-0 away, so there is no reason to think that they won’t get the better of this contest. But Al-Ettifaq are unbeaten in their last three away trips (W1, D2) and drew 1-1 with title-chasing Al Hilal last time out, so they should be able to make this a tight game. Al-Ittihad are coming up against a side that will be compact and tough to break down, so a draw at 3.45 looks good value. But Al-Ittihad are scoring an average of 2.86 goals per game at home, so over 2.5 goals is also a good bet.