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Al Tai vs Al-Ettifaq Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips | SPL

Arnav Kholkar

Al Tai vs Al-Ettifaq Match Preview

Al Tai vs Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) will take place at the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa’ed Stadium on March 15.

The hosts enter this game on the back of an abysmal run of form. After a run of six defeats and a draw, they managed to scrape a 1-0 win against Al Hazem in their last outing at home. In those eight games, Al Tai scored a worrying three goals and conceded a whopping 16. The team are currently 16th in the SPL with 21 points and are two points from safety. They knew they needed to earn points soon if they had hopes of survival in the top division.

The visitors, on the other hand, are in a much better shape and form. With just one defeat in their last seven games, the team looked high on confidence ahead of the next game. In those seven games, Al-Ettifaq secured four wins and two draws, scoring 11 goals and conceding just four. They also kept an impressive four clean sheets in their last five games, with the last outing being a comfortable 3-0 win over Abha. The team were looking to keep up the good form.

With that said, let’s take a look at the team news coming out of both camps.

Team News

Al Tai

Al Tai vs Al-Ettifaq
Al Tai’s Bernard Mensah. (Getty Images)

Manager Laurentiu Reghecampf will have a fully-fit squad ahead of their next game as they look to string together some good results. However, four of his players are at the risk of suspension having already picked up four yellow cards.

Enzo Roco, Marko Dugandzic, Andrei Cordea and Ibrahim Al-Nakhli are the players who will be suspended for one game should they pick up another booking.

Al-Ettifaq

Much like his counterpart, manager Steven Gerrard will have no injuries to worry about ahead of their next few games. However, defender Hamdan Al-Shamrani has picked up four yellows this season and will be suspended for one game if he picks up another.

Predicted Lineups

Al Tai

Having won their last game, manager Reghecampf will stick with the same combination and will hope for a similar result.

Predicted XI: Moataz Al-Baqaawi; Ibrahim Alnakhli, Robert Bauer, Enzo Roco, Safwan Saud Aljohani; Alfa Semedo (C), Bernard Mensah; Andrei Cordea, Rakan Shamlan, Virgil Misidjan; Marko Dugandzic.

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Al-Ettifaq

The club have won their last two matches and Gerrard will be reluctant to make unnecessary changes to a winning combination.

Predicted XI: Paulo Victor (GK); Radhi Al-Oteibi, Jack Hendry, Abdullah Madu, Hamdan Al-Shamrani; Seko Fofana, Georginio Wijnaldum (C); Karl Toko Ekambi, Alvaro Medran, Demarai Gray; Moussa Dembele.

Al Tai vs Al-Ettifaq Head-to-Head Record

Al Tai and Al-Ettifaq have met several times in the last few years, with the games mostly turning out to be high-scoring affairs. In the last five meetings, Al Tai have won four while Al-Ettifaq have won just one. The former have scored 12 goals while the latter have scored seven.

Al-Ettifaq’s Demarai Gray (R) in action. (Getty Images)

Last 5 Games

  • Al-Ettifaq 4-3 Al Tai (09/23)
  • Al Tai 2-0 Al-Ettifaq (02/23)
  • Al-Ettifaq 1-2 Al Tai (08/22)
  • Al-Ettifaq 0-1 Al Tai (02/22)
  • Al Tai 4-2 Al-Ettifaq (09/21)

Prediction

Despite Al Tai having the better head-to-head record in recent times, this season’s story dictates that Al-Ettifaq enter the game as favourites. They have nearly twice the number of points as their hosts and have won games with a solid approach of late.

Gerrard’s men should break the hoodoo of past head-to-heads and secure a win against Al Tai.

Prediction: Al Tai 1-2 Al-Ettifaq.

Betting Tips & Odds

These two teams have produced high-scoring and highly entertaining games in their last few meetings. Both teams have scored in three of the five occasions, while the total goals scored has exceeded or matched three on three occasions.

Al Tai have kept two clean sheets against Al-Ettifaq recently but that should change in the next game.

Tips

  • Both Teams to Score – Yes: 1.82
  • Al-Ettifaq to Score Over 1.5 Goals – Yes: 1.68
  • Al-Ettifaq to Win and Both Teams to Score – Yes: 3.35

Match Odds

  • Al Tai Win: 5.30
  • Draw: 3.95
  • Al-Ettifaq Win: 1.59

Al Tai vs Al-Ettifaq Timings & Telecast

  • Date & Time: Friday, March 15th at 7:00 PM (GMT).
  • India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV app & website.
  • UK: DAZN.
  • US: fuboTV.
  • Saudi Arabia: Shahid.

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