Al Okhdood vs Al Hilal Prediction: Visitors heading for comfortable success

Title-chasing Al Hilal will hope to maintain their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League when they head for the Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City to face Al Okhdood on Thursday (17:30 GMT). Simone Inzaghi’s men have a one-point advantage at the top of the Saudi top flight, but there are a whole host of teams snapping at the heels of the Boss.

Al Okhdood have worries at the other end of the division, with relegation a real threat, and they will be desperate for three points on home turf. Read on for my Al Okhdood vs Al Hilal predictions, alongside team news and match odds.

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Team News

There are no injury concerns for Al Okhdood, but defender Naif Asiri is suspended following his red card against NEOM.

Football Odds

Simone Inzaghi has decisions to make in terms of his forward line for the visitors.

New signing Karim Benzema is available for selection, and fellow forward Marcos Leonardo remains at the club after his move to Atletico Madrid collapsed.

Darwin Nunez is on the verge of signing for Fenerbahce and is unlikely to play a part, while Yusuf Akcicek is out with a hamstring injury.

Al Okhdood vs Al Hilal Odds

Al Hilal are red-hot 1/7 favourites to win on the road, with Al Okhdood 12/1 and the draw 11/2.

Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 2/5, while both teams to score is 11/10.

Al Hilal to win to nil @ 8/11

Mis-matches don’t come any bigger than the clash between Al Okhdood and Al Hilal.

The home side have taken only 10 points from their 19 Saudi Pro League games this season, scoring a miserly 15 goals in the process.

Relegation is on the cards for Marius Sumudica’s men, and while they did pick up a point against NEOM last time out, the numbers from that contest make alarming reading.

Al Okhdood conceded 68 per cent possession, 19 shots, seven corners and an expected goals figure of 2.64 on home turf.

Today's Football Fixtures

Now the Ambassador of Najran have to take on the league leaders, boosted by the signing of Benzema.

Inzaghi has a wealth of riches at his disposal with Kalidou Koulibaly, Theo Hernandez, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom and Marcos Leonardo available for selection.

It’s no surprise to see Al Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League, and they have allowed only 18 goals in their 19 top-flight games this term.

Ruben Neves to score at any time @ 11/4

Inzaghi has decisions to make up front, with Benzema joining his squad, Leonardo remaining at the club, and Nunez on his way out.

Ruben Neves will once again be tasked with bossing the midfield, and it would be no surprise if the Portuguese found the net against one of the division's weakest teams.

It’s eight league goals this season, for the long-range and set-piece specialist, and there should be plenty of opportunities to strike in a game Al Hilal will likely dominate.