Al Hilal vs Al Nassr prediction 01.12.2023

• Competition: Saudi Professional League
• Date: Friday, 1st December 2023
• Kickoff: 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
• Venue: King Fahd International Stadium (Riyadh)

The 187th Riyadh derby, featuring Al Hilal and Al Nassr &— two teams that have poured huge resources into building their exceptional squads, is scheduled for Friday evening.

Al Hilal is the most decorated club in Saudi Arabia and arguably the biggest. Despite finishing 3rd in the league and winning only the King Cup last season, they have bounced back impressively. After recruiting high-profile players from Europe’s elite teams over the summer, they are now performing exceptionally well in all competitions. Currently, they are leading the domestic league, with a four-point gap separating them from Al Nassr in second place.

Al Nassr certainly shook up the football world with their acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite their trophy-less performance last season, their fortunes shifted after recruiting additional talented players, ultimately securing them the Arab Club Champions Cup with a 2:1 victory over Al Hilal in extra time. While it’s still early days, this season appears to be shaping up as a contest primarily between these two teams, given their significant lead over the rest of the league.

Al Hilal vs Al Nassr pick: Over 3.5 goals

Al Hilal’s performance has been nothing short of astonishing, with 13 consecutive victories. They’ve been outstanding on the offensive front, racking up 43 goals in 14 league games, averaging 3.07 per game. Despite expectations for their scoring average to decline due to Neymar’s injury, they’ve continued to wreak havoc on the opposition’s defense, managing to score a minimum of two goals in the last eight games in a row. On defense, they’ve been equally impressive, achieving six consecutive clean sheets. However, this defensive record may be somewhat misleading as they haven’t faced particularly tough opponents.

Al Nassr’s performance in the domestic league started off shaky, losing their first two matches. However, they turned the tide and have since remained unbeaten in 20 games across all competitions. The team’s offense, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Mane, Otavio, and Talisca, has been exceptional. In their last four matches, they scored three goals per match three times. Their only failure to score was against Persepolis, due to the early dismissal of Ali Lajami. While their defense was sturdy in the domestic league, it showed notable weaknesses against stronger teams. For instance, in the AFC Champions League match against Al Duhail, Al Nassr struggled significantly, conceding five goals in two games, and nearly letting in a few more.

Taking into account both teams’ offensive capabilities, remarkable performance, and particularly their goalscoring prowess, we anticipate a thrilling game with at least four goals, with a high probability of both teams scoring.