The Saudi Pro League resumes with Matchday 5, bringing exciting fixtures, including Al Nassr hosting Al Wehda at Al Awwal Park on Friday night. After the Round of 32 matches in the King Cup of Champions, attention shifts back to league action.
Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, appears to be in a serious yet positive mood. A change in team dynamics was seen after Luis Castro was replaced by Stefano Pioli as head coach. Since Pioli’s appointment, the team has performed well, securing a 1-2 victory over Al Hazm in the King Cup and previously winning 3-0 against Al Ettifaq in Pioli’s debut match. Al Nassr currently holds 5th place in the standings with 8 points from two wins and two draws.
On the other hand, Al Wehda has been working to regain control of their season. They recently claimed a narrow win against Al Faisaly in the King Cup Round of 32. The match could have gone either way, but after leveling the game, they won 4-2 on penalties. However, in the Saudi League, they have struggled, suffering a narrow defeat against Al Kholood. Al Wehda is currently 14th in the league, with only 4 points from one win, one draw, and two losses.
For Al Nassr, there’s positive news regarding injuries. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested in previous matches, is set to return, along with Marcelo Brozovic and defender Ali Lajami, who were unavailable before. All three will be available for Pioli’s selection.
Meanwhile, Al Wehda faces the challenge of playing without left-back Ahmed Bandar Darwish, who was sent off in their last league match against Al Kholood. Other than that, the rest of the squad is available for Josef Zinnbauer’s selection.
The predicted lineups for both teams are as follows:
– Al Nassr (4-2-3-1): Al Aquidi; Ghannam, Simakan, Laporte, Al Najidi; Khaibari, Otavio; Angelo, Talisca, Mane; Ronaldo.
– Al Wehda (4-2-3-1): Al Owaishri; Al Mowalad, Al Hafith, Al Salem, Al Alaeli; Hejji, Cretu; Amyn, Bacuna, Noor; Ighalo.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, Al Nassr has won 19 of the 33 previous meetings, while Al Wehda has won 8, and 6 matches have ended in draws. Both teams come into the game with wins in the King Cup, but Al Nassr is favored to win, with a predicted score of 3-0.
Fans in the United States can watch the match live on Fox Soccer Plus and Fox Deportes. Live streaming is available through Fubo, Fox Sports.com, and the Fox Sports app, while UK viewers can watch on DAZN UK.
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