Al Nassr vs Al Raed Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips

• Date: 7 March, Thursday
• Kick-off Time: 5:00 PM (GMT)
• Stadium: Al Awwal Stadium

Al Nassr vs Al Raed Preview: 

Al Nassr enters matchweek 23 with a big opportunity to inch closer to 1st place in the Saudi Pro League as they take on 15th-placed Al Raed on Thursday. The Riyadh club has been in sensational form lately, picking up 13 out of the last 15 points on offer. Last weekend Al Nassr almost registered another victory, but Al Hazem made a late comeback to end the thrilling game in a 4-4 draw.

Before their tie against Al Raed, Al Nassr are all set to take on Al Ain in the AFC Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo will look to return to the squad and score against Al Ain tonight before the tie against Al Raed. The football legend missed out last week’s tie with Al Hazem as he was out suspended for an “obscene gesture” made by him during the tie against Al Shabab on February 25.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum and almost on the other end of the league are Al Raed. The Buraydah based club is currently in 15th place, only two points above the drop zone. Al Raed have struggled to find consistency this season. They have managed to secure only one point in their last three outings in the Saudi Pro League.

The club has been plagued with a leaky defense recently and have conceded a shocking 37 goals in 22 outings. With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to the Saudi Pro League after a suspension, Al Raed will have expend all their energy in ensuring the legendary forward doesn’t score. Almost an impossible task!

Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Suspended for Obscene Gesture in Saudi Pro League Match

Al Nassr vs Al Raed Team News:

Al Nassr:

In Cristiano Ronaldo’s second season at the club, Al Nassr has made a strong title charge, but unfortunately for them, Al Hilal has been in finer form. Yet, Al Nassr refuses to give up on their title aspirations. The Riyadh-based club have also managed to recover crucial players from injuries as the business end of the season approaches. 

Currently, Al Nassr has only three players out injured. Second and third-choice goalkeepers Waleed Abdullah and Raghed Najjar have picked up minor injuries recently and will be out for the tie against Al Raed. However, Al Nassr will be delighted that David Ospina has returned to the squad and is likely to start against Al Raed. Al Nassr might suffer a little going forward in the absence of right-back Sultan Al Ghanam. The right-back has accumulated an impressive seven assists in the Saudi Pro league this season. Unfortunately, his muscle injury is unlikely to heal in time for him to make the squad against Al Raed. 

Al Raed:

The club is currently attempting to survive a very real threat of being relegated to the second tier. Luckily for the club, Al Raed has managed to recover all their crucial players before the tie against Al Nassr. Barring any freak injuries in the build up to the Thursday fixture, Al Raed will arrive with their best squad in Riyadh. However, Martin Normann will not make the trip to Riyadh with Al Raed due to suspension. The midfielder earned himself a straight red card against Al Fayha last week. 

Al Nassr vs Al Raed Predicted Line ups:

Al Nassr Predicted XI:

David Ospina (GK), Ali Lajami, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Marcelo Brozovic, Anderson Talisca, Otavio, Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo (C)

Al Raed Predicted XI:

Andre Moreira (GK), Mohammed Al Dosari, Mubarak Al Rajeh, Oumar Gonzalez, Mamadou Loum, Hamad Al Jayzani, Mansour Al Bishi, Khalid Alsubaie, Mohamed Fouzair (C), Julio Tavares, Karim El Brekaoui

Al Nassr vs Al Raed Head-to-Head Record:

Al Nassr and Al Raed have faced off 19 times in the last 10 years. Unsurprisingly, Al Nassr have dominated the fixture, securing an astonishing 15 victories, while drawing three games. Underdogs, Al Raed have managed to taste victory only once against Al Nassr in the last ten years. The victory for Al Raed came eight years ago in 2016. Since, Al Nassr has continued to dominate the fixture. 

Last five results: 

• Al Raed- 1-3 Al Nassr:- Saudi Pro League – 16 September, 2023
• Al Nassr 4-0 Al Raed:- Saudi Pro League – 29 April, 2023
• Al Raed 1-4 Al Nassr:- Saudi Pro League – 16 December, 2022
• Al Raed 0-3 Al Nassr:- Saudi Pro League – 21 May, 2022
• Al Nassr 2-2 Al Raed:- Saudi Pro League – 20 November, 2021

Al Nassr vs Al Raed Prediction:

Bolstered with the return of the ex-Real Madrid legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, in front of goal, it is highly unlikely Al Nassr will lose the fixture against Al Raed. The visitors are in desperate need of accumulating points, but could prove too weak to stop the dominant Al Nassr. While they might be inspired by 18th placed Al Hazem who drew with Al Nassr last week, it won’t be an easy task to take points off Al Nassr with Ronaldo back in the side. On paper, Al Nassr are way too strong for Al Raed.

Predicted Score:- Al Nassr 3-1 Al Raed

Al Nassr vs Al Raed Betting Tips and Odds:

Bookmakers expect Al Nassr vs Al Raed to end in an easy victory for Al Nassr.

• Al Nassr win: 1.22 
• Draw: 6.00
• Al Raed win: 9.00

Odds Source: Oddspedia.com

Bookmaker: Betway

Where to watch Al Nassr vs Al Raed:

• India: Sony Liv, Sony Sports Network
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi Sports Company (SSC)
• United Kingdom: DAZN
• USA: fuboTV, Fox Sports