Al Nassr-Al Ittihad is a match of the thirty-fourth day of the Saudi Pro League and is played on Monday at 8 p.m.: TV, streaming, lineups, predictions.
No one in the Saudi Pro League going into the archives has scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo. CR7 scored 33 goals, six more than Al-Hilal gunner Mitrovic, yet they were not enough to lift the title. His Al-Nassr also had to settle for second place this year and, when there are 90 minutes left in the championship, even has 14 points less than the newly crowned Al-Hilal champions.
Al-Nassr’s has not been a disappointing championship but the main problem is that their arch-rivals have done better on all fronts, going undefeated and winning almost every game (with the exception of three draws). There is, however, still a small chance to lift a trophy, namely the King’s Cup, a competition that the very two big teams in Riyadh will compete in next weekend. Before focusing on the cup, Ronaldo and his teammates will try to “salute” the Saudi Pro League with a victory in the day’s big match with Al-Ittihad. For the Jeddah club, on the other hand, it has been a season completely to forget: it has changed as many as two coaches (Espirito Santo, Gallardo) but the results have been unsatisfactory and the yellow-and-whites have failed to defend the title they won last year. Despite the arrivals of Benzema and Kanté, Al-Ittihad is only fifth and will finish off the podium.
Al-Ittihad’s disappointing season
It can still finish fourth but it must compulsorily beat Al-Nassr and hope that Al-Taawoun, which has two more points, does not get the better of Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.
Benzema is not expected to be in the match – likely his return to Europe in the summer – while Al-Nassr will have to do without Spanish defender Laporte, disqualified for two turns.
The Prediction
Al-Nassr at home this year has lost only two games and is unbeaten in the league since March. Ronaldo and co. should close with a win against an Al-Ittihad lacking star Benzema and now without concrete goals. We predict a match of more than two goals overall and at least one on each side.
The probable lineups of Al Nassr-Al Ittihad
AL-NASSR (4-5-1): Ospina; Al-Ghanam, Lajami, Al-Amri, Alex Telles; Al-Khaibari, Yahya, Brozovic, Otavio, Mané; Cristiano Ronaldo.
AL-ITTIHAD (4-3-3): Mahasnah; Al-Yami, Al-Mosa, Kadesh, Al-Shanqeeti; Kanté, Al-Nashri, F. Al-Ghamdi; Jota, Haji, A. Al-Ghamdi.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
