Al-Nassr vs Al Shabab

Al-Awwal Park is the venue as Al-Nassr and Al Shabab go head-to-head in an all-Riyadh Saudi Pro League encounter.

Following last season’s runner-up finish, the arrivals of Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana, and Sadio Mane have bolstered Al-Nassr’s bid to go one better this term. However, Cristiano Ronaldo & Co have endured an underwhelming start to the new Saudi Pro League campaign, losing back-to-back outings to Al-Ettifaq and Al Taawon before the Portuguese veteran’s hat-trick inspired them to a thumping 5-0 win at Al Fateh last time out. Delivering action from the get-go, each of Al-Nassr’s three league games this season has featured the deadlock-breaker within the opening half an hour. A high-scoring theme could be in store, considering Luis Castro’s men have won two of their last three meetings with Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League despite conceding precisely twice on both occasions (D1).

On the other hand, Al Shabab’s effort to replicate last season’s 4th-place finish is already well off the mark, with the visitors going winless in the opening three Saudi Pro League rounds (D2, L1). Slow out of the blocks, Marcel Keizer’s men have conceded first in all three league matches this term but fought back twice to eke out identical 1-1 draws. Given the substantial gulf in class between the sides, Al Shabab would probably sign up for a stalemate ahead of the kick-off, but back-to-back top-flight defeats at Al-Nassr suggest their dismal league start will likely drag on. If nothing, their last three away league fixtures have seen over 3.5 goals and both teams scoring, indicating the neutrals could be in for a treat.