Al-Khaleej vs Al Riyadh Best odds and tips

Two sides that are virtually identical in terms of their league position and quality will face off on Saturday when Al Khaleej play host to Al Riyadh in the Professional League 2024-2025. Al Riyadh are ninth with 35 points and Al Khaleej are tenth with 34 after 30 games, so mid-table bragging rights are at stake in a fixture that could be a close one. Al Khaleej have been more positive and like to push forward in numbers, using the wings to get into the box, but they are prone to getting caught on the counter-attack. Al Riyadh are a more compact and risk-averse side that are well organised at the back and happy to sit back and wait for their opponents to make mistakes. These contrasting styles should make for an interesting tactical battle, but the visitors may be able to keep the hosts at bay.

Georgios Donis was appointed head coach of Al Khaleej on July 13, 2024, and he is still trying to work out his best team and tactics. Al Khaleej have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five Professional League fixtures and failed to win their last home game against Al Riyadh in this competition. Al Riyadh have been in poor form, failing to win any of their last five Professional League fixtures, drawing two and losing three. Al Hamidi Al Otaibi has made them more solid since taking over as manager at the end of April, but they still lack fluency in the attacking third. Ibrahim Bayesh is Al Riyadh’s leading scorer in the Professional League this season with five goals from 30 appearances and the veteran can be their ‘danger man’ on Saturday. Al Khaleej’s top scorer is Abdullah Al Salem, who has bagged 10 goals in 29 appearances in the Professional League this term.

Al Khaleej have been inconsistent at home this season, winning four, drawing four and losing seven of their 15 Professional League games. Al Riyadh have won four, drawn three and lost eight of their 15 away matches, conceding an average of 1.73 goals per game on their travels. The odds on the hosts look about right, with Al Khaleej 2.20, the draw 3.50 and Al Riyadh 3.15. A draw-no-bet market may appeal to those who are more cautious as both teams have drawn a lot of games this season and come into this one very evenly matched. Al Riyadh have scored an average of 1.13 goals per away game in the Professional League this campaign and may not have enough to break through on Saturday. But Faiz Selemani has scored two of his team’s five goals in the last five fixtures and can provide the visitors with a breakthrough if they need it.