Al-Malaki will lock horns against the Capital Blues in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Al Ahli are in great form and are performing well, especially in the AFC Champions League Elite, where they have won all five fixtures till now. In the Saudi Pro League, they are sitting at the sixth place but surely they will look to get back up in the points table. Not only they are getting results but also playing some really good football under the German tactician Matthias Jaissle. They also won their fixture against Al Wehda by 1-0 and will be confident when they take on Esteghlal on Monday evening.
The Iranian giants Esteghlal are going through some tough times. Currently, they are 7th in the points table with 13 points out of 10 matches. A lot of issues are going off the pitch. Fans have shown their frustration through their protests even though the South African head coach Pitso Mosimane fully trusts his players and assured the fans that they will work to perform better in upcoming fixtures.
Facing Al Ahli away from home will be a difficult task. Surely they will have to give their best to get something positive from the match.
Kick-Off:
Monday, 2 Dec 2024 at 4:00 PM UK, 09:30 PM IST
Location: King Abdullah Sports City
form
Al Ahli (in all competitions): WWWWW
Esteghlal (in all competitions): DWLLL
Player to Watch
Riyad Mahrez(Al Ahli)
Mahrez’s prominent offensive quality is his dribbling. He can dribble in 1v1 situations to go past opponents and create space for himself and others around him. Mahrez’s bravery in taking defenders on and forcing them to leave their positions is an approach that not only shows his willingness to help the team but also shows his positive approach to the game in terms of creativity.
The speed at which the Algerian can change direction allows him to manipulate the ball easily past opponents using different parts of his foot, depending on the assessment of the space around him as well as the positioning of his teammates.
Raphael Silva (Esteghlal)
The experienced Brazilian centre-back is an important part of the Esteghlal defence. Against Al Ahli’s fast and pacey wingers and forwards, his role will be crucial. Silva is known for his leadership at the back.
He is someone who consistently communicates with his teammates and rarely makes a wrong decision on the pitch. He is strong in duels and does not shy away from carrying the ball in the midfield to pass it to his teammates. Silva has to give his all to stop the likes of Mahrez and Ivan Toney.
Match Facts
- Their last meeting was a draw
- The average number of goals in meetings between Al Ahli and Esteghlal is 3.2
- Al Ahli have a winning streak of four matches
Al Ahli vs Esteghlal: Betting Tips & Odds
- Tip 1 – Al Ahli to win this fixture
- Tip 2 – Riyad Mahrez to score anytime
- Tip 3 – Goals scored under 2.5
Injury and Team News
Al Ahli will miss Robert Firmino for the upcoming match as he recently sustained a muscle injury. The rest of the players are fit and will be available for the match.
Mehdi Mehdipur, Mohammadi, Koushki and Kakuta are all injured and will not be available for Esteghlal.
Head-to-Head
Matches: 4
All players: 1
Esteghlal: 2
Draws: 1
Predicted Lineups
Al Ahli Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Mendy(GK); Majrashi, Demiral, Ibanez, Yaslam; Kessie, Aljohani; Mahrez, Veiga, Buraikan; Tony
Esteghlal Predicted Lineup (5-4-1):
Hosseini (GK); Rezaeian, Fallah, Silva, Moradmand, Zakipour; Eslami, Rezavand, Ndong, Masharipov; white
Match Prediction for Al Ahli vs Esteghlal
The team from Saudi Arabia is in great form and has some really good players. On the other hand, the Iranian team are facing issues on and off the pitch and are performing inconsistently. This will be an exciting fixture for sure. Most probably the home team will win this fixture.
Prediction: Al Ahli 2-0 Esteghlal
Telecast for Al Ahli vs Esteghlal
India: FanCode
UK: Triller TV
USA: Paramount+
Nigeria: beIN Sports Connect
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