Al-Raed Vs Al-Nassr

Al Raed will be facing an uphill battle when they host Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in gameweek 18 of the Saudi Pro League at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on Thursday. Still reeling from their sixth straight league defeat, the home side will be desperate to turn their fortunes around, but their task will be anything but easy against a high-flying Al-Nassr side eager to extend their winning streak.

The hosts are enduring a nightmare campaign, having secured just four victories from 17 matches so far. Another setback in this fixture could prove disastrous, pushing them even closer to the dreaded relegation zone. Their recent outing ended in disappointment, as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Al Kholood in gameweek 17 at the Ar-Rass Stadium. That result extended their winless streak in the league to six games, leaving them in a precarious position with 14 points, surviving above the relegation places only on goal difference.

With the season slipping away, Al Raed are in dire need of a turnaround. Their record since November has been dismal, managing just one victory in their last seven league matches. Their struggles in front of goal are evident, as they have failed to score in three of those fixtures, and their defensive frailties have only compounded their problems. Conceding 30 goals so far this season, including 14 during their current six-match losing streak, highlights the challenges awaiting Odair Hellmann and his team. The prospect of facing an Al-Nassr side that has netted 10 goals in their last four league matches only adds to their growing concerns.

Despite their recent struggles, Al Raed can take solace in the fact that they have had some success against Al-Nassr in recent meetings. They remain unbeaten in their last two league encounters with Thursday’s visitors, securing a victory in one and a draw in the other. That history might offer a glimmer of hope as they prepare to battle a formidable opponent.

Meanwhile, Al-Nassr have found this season’s title race to be an even tougher challenge than the last. After finishing 14 points behind champions Al-Hilal in the previous campaign, the Riyadh-based side is once again facing stiff competition at the top. Although they secured an important 3-1 win over Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park in their last league match, marking their second consecutive victory, they still find themselves playing catch-up in the title chase.

Sitting fourth in the standings with 35 points from 17 games, Al-Nassr are trailing by eight points behind both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, the latter being led by Karim Benzema. If they are to mount a serious title challenge, they cannot afford to drop points in matches like this. Fortunately for them, their away form has been impressive, and they have consistently found the net on their travels. The Heart of Najd have scored in all eight of their away league fixtures this season, netting three or more goals in four of those encounters. Moreover, they have been particularly prolific at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, registering 10 goals in their last three visits to this venue.

Given the stark contrast in form between the two sides, Al-Nassr will be heavily favored to come away with all three points. Their recent dominance over Al Raed on the road further boosts their confidence, as they have emerged victorious in each of their last eight away meetings against Hellmann’s side. With momentum firmly on their side, Stefano Pioli’s men will be determined to make it three league wins in a row and continue their pursuit of the league leaders.

For Al Raed, the task ahead is daunting, but they cannot afford to approach this match with a defeatist attitude. They need to find a way to tighten their defense and rediscover their attacking form if they are to stand any chance of salvaging a result. Al-Nassr, on the other hand, will look to exploit their opponents' vulnerabilities and further assert their dominance in the league.

As the two teams prepare to clash, all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates to see if they can maintain their winning streak, while Al Raed will hope to pull off a surprise and halt their alarming slide down the table. With plenty at stake for both sides, this promises to be a compelling battle under the lights at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.