Al-Ettifaq will put their perfect record in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season at risk on Friday night when they Al-Nassr to the Al Ettifaq Club Stadium for a showdown in gameweek four.

The hosts picked up the maximum number of nine points from their first three games of the new league season, while the visitors got off to a rocky start, managing just five points in the same period.

Game Preview

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Al Ettifaq were widely seen as the team that could challenge the dominance of the PIF-owned club last season, but failed to live up to expectations and finished the season in sixth place, exactly half of the 96 points tally of league winners Al-Hilal.

However, the Knights of Ad-Dahna have started this season in the best possible way, securing a 1-0 away win at Al-Shabab, followed by a 1-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud and a 2-1 triumph over Al-Fateh before and after the international break.

This promising start was urgently needed for Steven Gerrard after his disappointing first year as manager, and his team have now won their first three games for the first time since the 2011/12 season, when they triumphed in seven of their first ten matches and remained unbeaten during the same period.

If Al-Ettifaq can claim victory against last season’s runners-up on Friday, it will be the club’s longest winning streak since the last time it won four games in a row between October and November 2012.

Although the hosts have lost their last two meetings with their upcoming opponents, it should be noted that both of those defeats came in Riyadh, while here in Dammam they are unbeaten in their last three games, including a 2-1 league win last season.

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Meanwhile, things are not going well for Al-Nassr. The team delivered some disappointing performances at the start of the season and are now four points behind the top three clubs.

In their first three league games, the Knights of Najd drew with Al Raed and Al Ahli and won against Al Fayha in between before earning another draw against Al Shorta in their first AFC Champions League match on Monday night.

With Cristiano Ronaldo And Aymeric Laporte both were missing, Nassr had a tough time at the Al-Madina International Stadium, and this game was the last for Luis Castrowho was released by the club on Tuesday evening.

Al-Alami wasted no time in replacing the Portuguese coach and appointed the former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli as his replacement the next day, and the Italian tactician will make his debut in this game.

Al Ettifaq Saudi Pro League form:

Al Ettifaq form (all competitions):

Al-Nassr Saudi Pro League form:

Al-Nassr Form (All Competitions):

Team News

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Gerrard currently has to do without only one injured player: the Scottish central defender Jack Henrywho has not played this season due to a serious knee injury.

Former Leicester City winger Demarai Grey missed Al Ettifaq’s last game after arriving late from international duty with Jamaica, but he could now face serious competition for a place in the starting eleven after Joao Costa‘s impressive cameo appearance last week.

Pioli may have to begin his tenure in the Middle East without the services of club captain Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese legend was forced to miss the team’s trip to Iran due to illness.

If CR7 does not play in this game either, Talisca is the most likely candidate to lead the guests, with Otavio And Sadio Mane Providing attacking support from midfield.

Possible starting eleven for Al Ettifaq:
Rodak; Otaibi, Al-Khateeb, Madu, Alolayan; Vitinho, Wijnaldum, Fofana; Radif, Dembele, Gray

Possible starting eleven for Al-Nassr:
Bentos; Al Ghanam, Alawjami, Laporte, Simakan; Brozovic, Al-Khaibari, Mane, Ghareeb, Otavio; Talisca

We say: Al Ettifaq 1-1 Al-Nassr

Normally, Al-Nassr would go into this match as clear favourites, but this time opinions are divided considering their start and the possible absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. We expect a very even match here and believe there will be nothing to separate the two at the final whistle.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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