Preview: Al Najma vs Al-Nassr – prediction, team news, lineups

Al-Najma will welcome Al-Nassr to Al-Najma Club Stadium on Wednesday night for a Saudi Pro League conflict that pits the league’s backside facet towards considered one of its most in-kind groups.

While the hosts are battling to maintain their survival hopes alive, the guests arrive as title contenders, trying to preserve their momentum on the prime of the standings.

Match preview

Life within the Saudi Pro League has confirmed extraordinarily troublesome for Al-Najma following their promotion, with the facet struggling to deal with the calls for of prime-flight soccer.

They at present sit backside of the desk in 18th place, having collected simply eight factors from 22 matches, with one win, 5 attracts and 16 defeats highlighting the dimensions of their struggles.

Al-Najma have additionally discovered it troublesome at each ends of the pitch, scoring simply 21 targets whereas conceding 46, leaving them with one of many poorest defensive data within the division.

Their current kind provides little encouragement – only one win of their final 5 league matches, alongside one draw and three defeats, with that consequence being their solely victory of the marketing campaign up to now.

In their most up-to-date outing, they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Al-Ahli, a consequence that additional uncovered their defensive frailties and lack of consistency.

Nestor El Maestro‘s facet have struggled to search out tactical steadiness, with recurring defensive lapses persevering with to undermine their performances.

Their residence report does little to encourage confidence both, having managed only one win, three attracts and 6 defeats at their very own floor, leaving them firmly in relegation hazard.

With stress mounting, the hosts look like working out of time to show their season round, and one other defeat right here may additional dent their survival hopes.

© Iconsport / Orange Pictures, Orange Pics BV / Alamy

In distinction, Al-Nassr have been one of many standout groups within the league this season and at present sit on the prime of the desk with 55 factors from 22 matches.

They have recorded 18 wins, one draw and three defeats, whereas scoring 57 targets and conceding simply 18, underlining their dominance at each ends of the pitch.

The guests head into this encounter in distinctive kind, having received every of their final eight matches throughout all competitions with out conceding a single aim.

Their newest outing noticed them safe a convincing 4-0 victory over Al-Hazem, a efficiency that highlighted each their attacking high quality and defensive self-discipline.

Jorge Jesus‘s males have developed right into a nicely-drilled unit able to controlling matches, dictating tempo and creating quite a few scoring alternatives.

Their away kind has additionally been spectacular, with eight wins, one draw and two defeats on their travels, making them a formidable opponent no matter venue. 

There is little current historical past between the 2 sides, with their final assembly courting again to 2003, when Al-Nassr recorded a dominant 6-0 victory.

Al Najma Saudi Pro League kind:

Al-Nassr Saudi Pro League kind:

Al-Nassr kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Al-Najma can be with out Felippe Cardoso, who’s suspended after receiving a crimson card of their final outing.

Mohammed Al-Kunaydiri stays sidelined with an extended-time period cruciate ligament harm sustained in October and isn’t anticipated to return till later within the yr.

In Cardoso’s absence, Hisham Al-Dubais is predicted to guide the road, with help from Lazaro in attacking areas.

Defensively, Nasser Al-Haleel, Abdullah Al-Hawsawi, Samir Caetano and Khalid Al-Subaie are all anticipated to characteristic because the hosts look to tighten up on the again.

Al-Nassr, in the meantime, have a few health considerations, with Saad Haqawi uncertain on account of bodily discomfort.

Sami Al-Najei can also be a doubt as he continues to take care of a knee drawback.

Marcelo Brozovic and Angelo Gabriel are each anticipated to start out, offering management and steadiness in midfield.

Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman ought to function in broad positions, supporting a entrance two of Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a brace within the final outing.

Al Najma doable beginning lineup:

Braga; Al-Hawsawi, Al-Haleel, Samir, Al-Subaie; Boutobba, Emad, Guga, Tijanic; Lazaro, Al-Dubais

Al-Nassr doable beginning lineup:

Bento; Yahya, Al-Amri, Simakan, Al-Ghanam; Mane, Brozovic, Angelo Gabriel, Coman; Felix, Ronaldo

We say: Al Najma 0-3 Al-Nassr

Given the huge distinction in high quality, kind and confidence between the 2 sides, this seems to be a one-sided contest on paper.

Al-Nassr’s attacking firepower and defensive solidity ought to show an excessive amount of for an Al-Najma facet that has struggled all through the season, and the guests are anticipated to safe a cushty victory.

For knowledge evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.