SPL Preview: Al Hilal vs. Al Ettifaq Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Aug 28)

• Al Hilal is without a loss to Al Ettifaq on home turf in seven years.
• Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will miss Monday’s game due to receiving a red card in the previous round.

We won’t see Naymar make his Saudi Pro League (SPL) debut in the Al Hilal vs. Al Ettifaq game on Monday, August 28, but even without him on the team, Al Hilal is seen as a strong favorite. This team’s SPL odds are as short as -550, but we don’t think Steven Gerrard and his Al Ettifaq crew should be underestimated. You can be 100% certain that they’re preparing a nasty surprise for the favorites.

How to Watch

• When: Monday, August 28, 2023, at 4:00 p.m ET
• Where: Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• How to Watch: FOX Soccer Plus, Fubo

Odds

Game Preview

Al Hilal is undefeated against Al Ettifaq in the last 13 Al Hilal vs. Al Ettifaq duels. The last time the Blue Waves lost to this opponent was in 2018 when they played away from home. At Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Al Hilal is undefeated against Al Ettifaq since 2016, with five wins in a row.

As you’d expect from the most successful team in the Saudi Pro League, Al Hilal is doing very well in the 2023 season. These guys are third in the standings with a 2-1-0 record. They’re coming off a 4-0 win over Al Raed on the road, which saw ex-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic score on his debut.

The game, however, also saw his Serbian compatriot Sergej Milinkovic-Savic get a straight red card after headbutting an opposition player. For that reason, SMS will miss the Al Hilal vs. Al Ettifaq game on Monday.

Should this worry Al Hilal’s fans? We think so, yeah. It’s because Al Ettifaq’s roster looks really strong in 2023. Sure, coach Gerrard doesn’t have stars of Neymar’s caliber at his disposal, but there are some pretty decent players wearing Al Ettifaq’s colors in 2023 – Jordan Henderson (former Liverpool captain), Moussa Dembele (former Lyon scoring machine), and others.

Al Hilal vs. Al Ettifaq Prediction

Al Ettifaq definitely looks like a team that could upset the odds on Monday. These guys might have a poor history with Al Hilal, but their current form is proof that they’re a force that should be reckoned with. They might not necessarily win on August 28, but we can definitely see them win a point. 

Free Pick: