Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr Prediction
🔊 Middle Eastern football powerhouses Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr are heading to Hong Kong to compete for the Saudi Super Cup. This mini-tournament kicks off with the semifinals, and the winner of this matchup will face either Al-Qadisiyah or Al-Ahli. Al-Nassr's new manager, Jorge Jesus, previously claimed this title with Al-Hilal in 2018, so expectations are high for Riyadh's first trophy since Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival. However, can they overcome the reigning national champions? Let's delve into our prediction.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past 10 matches, Al-Ittihad have held the upper hand with 7 victories, including a 3-1 triumph in the 2023 Super Cup semifinal. During this span, the teams have drawn once, while Al-Nassr have celebrated success twice.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Al-Ittihad Jeddah Team Overview
🟡 The Jeddah club, under the leadership of Laurent Blanc, claimed the Saudi Pro League title last season, finishing eight points clear of their nearest rival, Al-Hilal. Additionally, Karim Benzema and his teammates secured the King's Cup by defeating Al-Qadisiyah in the final (3-1). In the AFC Champions League, Ittihad reached the quarter-finals but were knocked out by Al-Hilal with identical 0-2 losses in both legs. During the off-season, the Jeddah side didn't manage any victories in their friendly matches. Al-Ittihad toured Europe, suffering a heavy defeat to Fenerbahce (0-4) and a loss to Fulham (2-4).
Match Results: Al-Ittihad Jeddah
Al Nasr Riyadh Team Overview
🔵 This summer, Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for his first trophy in Saudi Arabia was entrusted to his compatriot Jorge Jesus, who has had success with Al-Hilal. Last season, Al-Nassr finished third in the Pro League, which wasn't enough to qualify for the AFC Champions League, as the spot was claimed by Al-Ahli, who finished fifth but won the tournament. The Riyadh-based club reached the semifinals of the competition but fell to Japan's Kawasaki with a 2-3 defeat. In the King's Cup, the "yellow and blues" played only two matches, stumbling in the round of 16 against Al-Taawoun with a 0-1 loss.
Match Results: Al Nasr Riyadh
Latest news
Al-Ittihad Jeddah
📝 In the transfer market, the club's management is maintaining a low profile so far, with no major signings recorded. However, there's still time before the window closes, and in Jeddah, they are eyeing AC Milan's midfielder Ismaël Bennacer and Zenit's Brazilian midfielder Wendel. Even without new additions, the team boasts a number of quality internationals: aside from the main star and last season's Pro League top scorer Karim Benzema (21 goals), the Saudi club's lineup includes N'Golo Kanté, Fabinho, Moussa Diaby, and Steven Bergwijn.
Al Nasr Riyadh
📝 Alongside the head coach, several star players from Europe's top clubs moved to Riyadh this summer. Among them, 34-year-old Iñigo Martínez joined as a free agent from Barcelona, where he was a key defender last season. Additionally, 29-year-old winger Kingsley Coman made the switch from Bayern for €25 million. The most expensive acquisition, viewed as an investment for the future, was 25-year-old Chelsea forward João Félix, who reportedly had Cristiano Ronaldo overseeing his transfer for a fee of €30 million.
🎙 Here's what Al-Nassr's head coach Jorge Jesus had to say about the Portuguese player's transfer: "I believe in his abilities; they align perfectly with my attacking style of play. Last year, I attempted to bring him to Al-Hilal, but he chose Chelsea. Now Félix has signed with Al-Nassr. It's the right choice because here he can focus on football without external distractions. In Saudi Arabia, there's no alcohol or nightlife, so he can concentrate solely on the game and spending time with his family."
⚽️ Goal Prediction
Both clubs are highly prolific, which is expected given their star-studded attacks. Al-Nassr have the edge in terms of average total goals over the last 10 matches, boasting 4.4 compared to 3.5. Notably, Riyadh's side tends to score more in the second half, with a split of 2.6 to 1.8 in the first half. Both teams often leave the decisive action for the latter part of the game. Al-Ittihad have scored in the closing stages for six consecutive matches, while Al-Nassr have done so in 10 of their last 11 encounters. We anticipate that it will take time for the teams to adjust to each other, so we lean towards the second half being more productive than the first.
🚩 Corner Prediction
The teams' average number of corners over the last 10 matches (including friendlies) stands at 10.5 versus 8.1, favoring Al-Nassr. However, their head-to-head meetings haven't featured such a high number of corner kicks, with the count not exceeding 8 in four consecutive matchups. We believe this trend will continue, so we're opting for total corners under 9.5 with a bit of margin.
Editorial Prediction
Bookmakers have pegged Al-Nassr as the clear favorites for this clash, with odds over two to one in their favor. The Riyadh club had a stronger off-season, excelling in both transfers and results. However, Al-Ittihad, under Laurent Blanc's guidance, didn't boast as many stars last season as their upcoming rivals, yet they still managed to outperform them, including in head-to-head encounters. On paper, Al-Nassr might seem more formidable, but we have no doubt that this will be a competitive match and expect an entertaining display of football, especially given the more exhibition-like nature of the tournament. The match could end with a scoreline of 3-2 in favor of the "yellow-blues," and the likelihood that both teams will score is almost certain.
Betting Tips: Al-Ittihad Jeddah - Al Nasr Riyadh
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Other predictions
