The star-studded teams of Ainas and Hilal make this clash in the Saudi League undoubtedly one of the most talked-about matches of the week.
For Ainas, there is no room for error in this campaign. Despite being unbeaten in the league this season, they have only played three matches and the draw with Ekorut has left them six points behind Hilal. Therefore, the stars in the team will have to be on top of their game to help the team turn things around.
This is a matchup where sparks could break out in all positions, especially between Sardiovanni and Zuogenslu. It is well known that Zuogenslu, a Portuguese defender, likes to press forward for assists, which may leave a gap in the defense for Ainas wing Sardiovanni to take advantage of.
Kristian Ronaldo is eager to score, but he may face a tough battle against the combined defense of Ghoulibani and Ebrahim. However, he can rewrite the game if he seizes one chance. He is eager to bounce back in this match after his team suffered an unexpected loss in the penalty shootout against Aitayavan in the Saudi Arabia King's Cup on Tuesday.
Teliska is full of confidence after scoring two goals in a row in the league. I'm sure he will create a huge threat to the opposition with his excellent aerial dominance when dealing with set-pieces.
For Hilal, Nima is back from injury but is expected to make a gradual return by coach Georgios Jetsis, so he could make his debut.
Hilal have won eight straight league games this season, scoring a whopping 23 goals and conceding just six. Aleksandar Mizunovic is in hot form as he scored 10 goals in these eight games. Aidah Shahri has also been in fine form and has been the team's key scorer.
Milenko Vishavi is an excellent controller in the midfield. His battle with Ainas midfielder Posovic will have a direct impact on the trend of the game. I think he is one of the most powerful players in this season.
If the Ainas stars are at their best, they still have a chance. However, considering Hilal's status as a winning team with balanced strength in all positions, I predict they will have the last laugh in this Riyadh derby, with Aleksandar Mizunovic also expected to score.
