Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad will face each other on Friday, March 1, at the Kingdom Arena. Here is how bookies rate both teams' chances, according to the odds from our betting partner Megapari:
Al-Hilal - 1.45
Draw - 4.80
Al-Ittihad - 5.60
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal are at the top of the Saudi Pro League and have been winning in all tournaments since September last year. The team has only lost 4 points out of 63 possible. They are 7 points ahead of Al-Nassr in the table. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Al-Hilal’s midfielder, was injured but quickly recovered and even scored the first goal in the previous match against Al-Ittifaq.
Al-Ittihad
The current champions of the Saudi League, Al-Ittihad, have had a tough season. However, the team is starting to improve under the leadership of the Argentinean coach, Marcelo Gallardo. They have won their last three league games and have made it to the semi-finals of the Saudi Cup and the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. Karim Benzema has returned to training, but lately, he has been scoring own goals more often than hitting the opponents’ net.
Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad: Facts to know
Al-Hilal have gone through 14 rounds in the Saudi Pro League without losing any points.
Al-Ittihad have won three league matches in a row, which is the team's longest winning streak since August of last year.
Al-Hilal have only conceded 2 goals in the last 10 rounds of the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad: Head-to-head
In the first round, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad had a tough match that ended with a 4:3 victory for Al-Hilal. Overall, the Royal Club has a good record against the Tigers. Last season, Al-Hilal played two games against Al-Ittihad, and both games ended in a draw and a win for the Royal Club. Al-Hilal also beat Al-Ittihad in the Asian Champions League and the Saudi Cup.
Al-Hilal v Al-Ittihad: Prediction and betting tips
Last round, we were expecting the Royal Club to be more relaxed, but they played with precision and a strong desire to win against Al-Ittifaq. We see no reason why Al-Hilal won't do the same against Al-Ittihad. Although beating the current champion is a serious challenge, we believe that Al-Hilal can handle it. Al-Ittihad, despite being a serious threat, is far from optimal form.
Our betting tip: Al-Hilal with a handicap (-1) (Megapari odds - 2.14)
