Abha Club vs Al Hilal Prediction & Betting Tips - Saudi Pro League

Prediction published on 12/08/2023, 10:28  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 12/08/2023 at 11:28 in Saudi Pro League Predictions

Al Hilal will be confident of starting the new Saudi Arabia Pro League season with a win. They travel to Abha Club who finished nine places below them last season. One of Al Hilal's nicknames is 'The Bosses' and that has been the case in many league seasons in the past. They had won three consecutive titles before finishing third last season, 13 points behind Al Ittihad. Last season's top scorer (with 13 more goals than any other in the squad) was Odion Ighalo but he is no longer with them. Over £150m has so far been spent on new players this summer with the top signing being Malcom from Zenit St Petersburg. Also arriving have been Ruben Neves from Wolves, Khalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea and Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. All bar Koulibaly have been on target for their new clubs in the Arab Club Champions Cup in which they have won their last three games before a match on the 12th. Away form last season saw the Blue Waves win eight out of 15 league games with three losses.

Abha Club lost both of their league games against Al Hilal last season. They may be nicknamed 'The Leaders of the South' but only had four teams below them in the final table last season. They don't have the spending power of their opponents and none of their players last season managed to hit double figures in terms of goals. Saad Dguir was their top scorer with eight league goals but no one else managed more than five. Up against big spending Al Hilal we expect them to start the season with a home loss.