Al-Fayha vs Al Nassr: Match Preview and Prediction
Al-Fayha were just a single win away from pushing Al Fateh down to eighth in the Saudi Pro League table last season as they ended up ninth. With a view of turning that around, the hosts will do their best to not only display an upturn in fortune on-field but also show themselves as one of the hardest teams to beat for a top-four spot in this year's race. Al-Fayha are not short of ambition and they know they need to test themselves against the best week in, week out if they are going to take steps up league standings.
Al-Fayha were well on course to begin the new season with a 0-0 draw, but Kenyan forward Mohamed of Al-Taawoun found the net in stoppage time - five minutes into additional time at King Salman Sports City Stadium (Malaz) - and snatched victory for his side. While playing the better game, Al-Fayha left on an empty hand and will wish they could move forward to their tie vs a strong shouldered team who defeated EL gaish.
Meanwhile, Al-Fayha are going through a difficult time and have managed only one win from their last five fixtures. Their most recent match was in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 where Al-Fayha lost by a scoreline of 3-0. Throughout the first team had been in fine form, but those defeats saw them suffer a reality check, and now they will seek to return to winning ways against difficult opposition.
Al-Nassr will have been disappointed as they failed to win the Saudi Pro League title for a second successive season, ending up in second place on both occasions. They fell five points short of Al-Ittihad in the 2022-23 season, and it was out with Quieroz. The campaign prior to that, they were second again in Riyadh – this time behind Al-Hilal, who secured their 15th league crown. Al-Nassr, who have won the Saudi Pro League six times, will be looking to end this sequence by finishing top of the pile in PL18/19. However, they could not have had a worse season opener while being held to a draw.
The Bianconeri dropped points at home to Crotone and a converted Fouziar penalty for Al-Raed canceled out a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. With Al-Nassr leading the game but unable to score a second goal, they will certainly take confidence from that display and are desperate to get off the mark with a victory against Al-Fayha this time around. It is destined to be a mouthwatering contest, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo set to dazzle at the impressive King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, and fans around the world tuning in.
This looks set to be a great game, with both teams currently in dire form and desperate to turn things around. That common pursuit should ensure a fierce and competitive race. A thriller is in the offing as Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha aim to hit back in style sooner. Although, the desire and hunger for winning this battle could turn it into a thriller with some antics.
Kick-Off:
11:30 PM IST on Tuesday, Aug 27th, 2024
Venue:
King Abdullah Sports City, Buraidah (Saudi Arabia)
Form:
Al Fayha (in all competitions): L-L-L-L-W
Nassr (all competitions): D-L-W-L-D
Players to Watch:
Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha)
The 27-year-old center-forward began his footballing journey at Zanaco in his homeland as Junior Fashion Sakala. He later joined Spartak Moscow, managing 35 games with ten goals. Sakala arrived at KV Oostende in 2018 and netted two dozen goals in eighty appearances. Although he did not make an initial impact until 2021, after joining Rangers and scoring over 20 goals in just under two years – complete with his unbelievable assist-attempting hat trick against Dundee United at the weekend. Al-Fayha identified his talent in 2023 and offered him a contract to join. Sakala has excelled since joining the Saudi club, hitting 19 goals in 31 matches and becoming a key man.
At the international level, Sakala has been a key figure for the Zambia national team, recording 32 appearances and nine goals. He was also a member of the Zambia U20 team that won the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in 2017. While with Rangers, he was a big part of the team that won the Scottish Cup and were runners-up in both the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership in consecutive seasons. As Al-Fayha takes on high-flying and table-toppers Al-Nassr, Sakala will hope to continue his fine goal-scoring form as the club aims to collect a crucial home win.
Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr)
With a bomb tattooed on the side of his neck, illustrating the dynamism in his style and taste, Marcelo Brozovic has emerged as one of Europe's finest central attacking midfielder talents. After moving to Inter Milan in 2015, he began a journey that took him through Croatian clubs Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva, and Dragovoljac. During his time with Inter, Brozovic established himself as a key player for the Italian giants, making 261 appearances and scoring 25 goals in all competitions. His remarkable consistency earned him recognition, and he eventually made a high-profile move to Al-Nassr after over eight years at Inter Milan.
Brozovic has been a vital part of the Croatian national team setup, playing a major role in their runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup and helping them secure third place in the 2022 edition. He also played in the Croatia side that finished as runners-up in the UEFA Nations League 2022-23. Brozovic was named to the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season in 2019-20 and won the Serie A Best Midfielder award for the 2021-22 campaign.
Since joining Al-Nassr, Brozovic has gone from strength to strength, making 31 appearances and scoring four goals. He played a significant role in helping the team finish as runners-up in the King's Cup during the 2023-24 season and winning the Arab Club Champions Cup that same year. Al-Nassr will rely on his experience and expertise as they look to build on recent successes.
Match Facts
- Al-Nassr has won only one game in their last five played.
- Al-Fayha has failed to win in their last five matches.
- Al-Fayha will be looking to bounce back from a tough 0-1 loss against Al-Taawoun last time out.
Betting Tips and Odds
- Tip 1: Match-winner – Al-Nassr
- Tip 2: Cristiano Ronaldo first goal scorer.
- Tip 3: Goals over 0.5
Injury and Team News
With the exception of Henry Onyekuru (qualification) and Mohammad Abusabaan (suspension), Christos Kontis will have all players fit for his preferred first XI.
Al-Nassr, for their part, travels to Sharjah with Luis Castro relieved that there are no injury worries or suspensions in the ranks.
Head-to-Head Record
Total matches: 17
- Al-Fayha won: 1
- Al-Nassr won: 12
- Matches drawn: 4
Predicted Lineup
Al-Fayha Possible Starting Lineup (4–2–3–1):
Al-Deqeel (GK); Al Dowaish, Al-Khaibari, Al-Rashidi, Adbi; Kaabi, Mkhtar; Allhrtii, Rmamah, Otman SDLKY
Al-Nassr Predicted XI (4–2–3–1):
Bento (GK); Al Ghanam, Alawjami, Laporte, Telles; Brozovic, Al-Khaibari; Talisca, Otavio, Mane; Ronaldo
Prediction
Both teams are facing challenging times. Al-Nassr will want to maximize the quality in their highly-rated squad. They should claim a narrow win over Al-Fayha and return to winning ways.
Prediction: Al-Fayha 0-1 Al-Nassr
Telecast Information
- India: Sony LIV, Sony Sports Network
- UK: DAZN UK
- US: fuboTV, FOX Sports App, FOX Deportes
- Greece: Cosmote, Nova Sports
- Botswana: SuperSport (StarTimes App)
- Nigeria: StarTimes App, Sporty TV