Damac vs Al Ettifaq Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips

Date: 2 March, Saturday

Kick-off Time: 2:00 PM (GMT)

Stadium: Dhamak Club Stadium

Damac vs Al Ettifaq Preview:

Damac vs Al Ettifaq will kick-off on Saturday afternoon in a clash of titans in the middle of the table. The home side is one of the few sides in the Saudi Pro League which didn’t see an inflow of European pedigree players in the summer. However, the club has managed to keep playing good football. The club is currently 6th in the table and have had an impressive run in the league. While they’ve failed to win any of their last three outings, it is only a matter of time before they return to form.

On the other end of the spectrum are Al Ettifaq. Steven Gerrard took over the club in the summer and has led the club to 8th position in the league. However, in recent times the club has struggled in the league. Al Ettifaq has won only one of their last five fixtures, with the latest loss coming against Al Hilal. The club based in Dammam flopped to a 2-0 loss against the mighty table toppers. Now, they march into battle against Damac in the hope of coming away with three points. Only three points divide the two sides in the standings currently.

Also Read: Al Hilal vs Al-Ittihad Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips

Damac vs Al Ettifaq Team News:

Damac:

Perhaps the only chink in Damac’s armor recently has been their inability to score a lot of goals. In the last three games, Damac has managed to score only one goal. After a goal drought in consecutive games, Damac finally scored a goal in their 1-1 draw against Al Fateh. Their lack of attacking threat has been a result of rotations and some fatigue. However, the club will look to bounce back and return to scoring against a defensively leaky Al Ettifaq.

Damac will host Al Ettifaq with a full squad and are likely to field their strongest XI. 

Al Ettifaq:

Steven Gerrard’s squad has evolved in the last few months, but have struggled to attain cohesion. Despite signing big names like Demarai Gray, Moussa Dembele, Karl Toko Ekambi, the club has failed to score consistently. Till now Gerrard’s squad has only scored a meager 24 goals. While they have been defensively solid, the lack of attacking threat has led them to drop many crucial points.

Unfortunately for Gerrard, his woes have just increased as the team has been conceding a lot of goals. Al Ettifaq have conceded 8 goals in the last five outings, while scoring only four. He will hope that the return of Wijnaldum and Seko Fofana to form will help his backline. The residents of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium will visit Dammac with a full squad and will look to bounce back from their embarrassing 2-0 loss against Al Hilal last weekend. 

Predicted Lineups: 

Damac Expected XI:

Moustapha Zeghba (GK), Ramzi Sawlan, Noor Al-Rashidi, Abdelkader Bedrane, Dhari Al-Enezi, Domagoj Antolic (C), Tarek Hamed, Nicolae Stanciu, Ahmad Zain, Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani, Georges-Kevin N’Koudou

Al Ettifaq Expected XI:

Paulo Victor (GK), Mohammed Yousef, Jack Hendry, Abudullah Madu, Hamdan Al-Shamrani, , Alvaro Medran, Seko Fofana, Georginio Wijnaldum (C), Karl Toko Ekambi, Moussa Dembele, Demarai Gray

Head-to-Head Record:

Damac and Al Ettifaq have faced each other a lot in the last few years. Since 2020, the two sides have played 9 games. Interestingly, the two sides have 3 games each while drawing the other 3 games. This season, the two clubs met earlier, where Al Ettifaq rode to an easy 3-1 victory at home. Now, Damac has been offered a chance to respond.

Last five results:

• Al Ettifaq 3-1 Damac:- Saudi Pro League – 2 September, 2023
• Al Ettifaq 2-0 Damac:- Saudi Pro League – 28 April, 2023
• Damac 0-0 Al Ettifaq:- Saudi Pro League – 15 December, 2022
• Damac 1-0 Al Ettifaq:- Saudi Pro League – 17 March, 2022
• Al Ettifaq 0-1 Damac:- Saudi Pro League – 30 October, 2021

Prediction:

The residents of Dhamak stadium have enjoyed a strong season and are guaranteed to finish the season in a very high position. While their recent losses have highlighted some of the flaws in their system, they are strong enough to bounce back. A win against Al Ettifaq in the league might boost their confidence. On the other hand, Al Ettifaq enter the contest after suffering at the hands of Al Hilal last weekend. If the fixture between the two sides earlier in the season is anything to go by, Damac vs Al Ettifaq will be a high-octane clash with both teams going all out to achieve 3 points. On paper, both squads seem capable of coming away with a win at Dhamak Stadium. 

Predicted Score: Damac 1-1 Al Ettifaq

Damac vs Al Ettifaq Betting Tips:

Bookmakers expect the game to be even and anyone could run away with a victory.

• Damac win: 2.48
• Draw: 3.25
• Al Ettifaq win: 2.70

Odds Source: Oddspedia.com

Bookmaker: Stake

Where to watch Damac vs Al Ettifaq:

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

Also Read: Al Nassr vs Al Hazm Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips