Al Ettifaq vs. Al-Nassr: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

On Friday night, in game four of the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League season, Al Ettifaq will host Al-Nassr at the Al Ettifaq Club Stadium. The winner of the match will defend their perfect record.

After three games in the new league season, the home team has accumulated a perfect nine points, while the away team has stumbled to a five-point start.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

The PIF-owned club's supremacy was widely anticipated to be challenged last season by Al Ettifaq. Still, they fell short, finishing the campaign in sixth position with 96 points, only half as many as league champions Al-Hilal.

But before the international break, the Knights of Ad-Dahna started this term on the right foot, winning 2-1 against Al-Fateh, 1-0 against Al-Akhdoud, and 1-0 away at Al-Shabab.

Steven Gerrard has gotten off to a much-needed start following a poor first year as manager. His team had won its first three games since the 2011–12 season when they were unbeaten in their first ten games.

On Friday, Al-Ettifaq will face the team that finished second last season; a win there would extend the club's winning streak to its longest since October and November of 2012.

The hosts have lost their past two matches against their forthcoming opponents, but both losses were in Riyadh. In Dammam, meanwhile, they have won their last three, including a league match last season by a score of 2-1.

The situation at Al-Nassr is far from ideal. The team has struggled to get off to a good start this season and is now four points below the top three.

The Knights of Najd have won their first league game against Al Fayha and drawn their first two league games against Al Ahli and Al Raed, respectively. On Monday night, they will play out another draw in their first AFC Champions League encounter against Al Shorta.

Nassr struggled at Al-Madina International Stadium without Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte; the match would be the last for Luis Castro, who the club fired on Tuesday night.

The next day, Al-Alami appointed Stefano Pioli, a former boss of AC Milan, to replace the Portuguese manager; this match would mark Pioli's debut in charge of the team.

Al Ettifaq x Al-Nassr Team News

At the moment, Gerrard is missing one player due to injury; Scottish centre-back Jack Hendry has not played a game this season because of a severe knee injury.

Demarai Gray, a former Leicester City winger, was tardy returning from Jamaican international duty and hence missed Al Ettifaq's most recent encounter. However, after Joao Costa's outstanding cameo last week, Gray may face stiff competition for a starting role.

Due to the Portuguese legend's sickness, Pioli may begin his stay in the Middle East without club captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo was unable to go to Iran with the squad.

In the event that CR7 is also ruled out of action, the visitors likely start Talisca up front, with Otavio and Sadio Mane forming the attacking midfield trio.

Our Predictions

Full time draw @4.00 on Sky247.ng

Given their start and the possible absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr would generally be considered obvious favourites going into this match. However, views are mixed on this occasion. We anticipate a closely fought battle and believe that these two will be unable to be separated at the end of the game.

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