Liam Duckstein
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Al Kholood host Al Ahli SC in the Saudi Pro League 2026/27 on 29 August at Al Hazm Club Stadium in Ar Rass. Al Ahli arrive unbeaten in their opening two league games, having scored five goals without reply, and the bookmakers are in near-total agreement that Marino Pusic’s side are the team to back here. The interesting angle is that Al Kholood have not lost any of their three league matches so far this season, picking up five points, so they are no pushover despite the heavy odds against them.
Two players deserve close attention before kick-off. Iker Kortajarena Canellada has been the standout performer for Al Kholood across the last five matches, contributing four goals and one assist from midfield. For Al Ahli, Eduard Spertsyan has been equally influential, racking up two goals and three assists in the same period and operating as the creative engine behind everything Pusic’s side produce going forward.
A hot stat worth flagging: Al Ahli have registered 22 corner kicks across their last five matches compared to Al Kholood’s 10. That dominance from set-piece situations in wide areas tells a clear story about how Al Ahli control territory and generate pressure.
| 🏆 Tournament: | Saudi Pro League 2026/27, Regular Season |
| 🏟 Venue: | Al Hazm Club Stadium, Ar Rass |
| 🗓️ Date: | 29.08.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 18:05 CEST |
Al Kholood vs Al Ahli SC Prediction
Al Ahli are the clear pick here. They sit third in the table with a perfect record, they have won four of their last seven matches in all competitions, and their squad depth is on another level compared to Al Kholood. The head-to-head record reinforces this view: Al Ahli have won three of the last four meetings, including two wins by a combined score of 7-1 in the most recent encounters.
We predict an Al Ahli win with goals from both sides possible but not guaranteed. Al Kholood have shown they can score, netting ten goals across their last five matches, but they have also been leaky at the back. Al Ahli’s defensive structure, anchored by Merih Demiral and Roger Ibañez, has been solid enough to keep clean sheets in their league campaign so far.
Al Kholood average ten yellow cards across five matches, which reflects a physical, foul-heavy style. They committed 60 fouls in that span. Al Ahli are similarly combative with 59 fouls and seven yellow cards but they back it up with better ball retention: 1,656 passes to Al Kholood’s 1,610, with a slightly higher pass accuracy. Al Ahli’s higher shot volume (63 vs 45) and corner count suggest they will impose themselves on this game territorially, which suits a bet on them winning and generating a high corner count.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Al Ahli SC to win to nil |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Al Kholood have had a mixed but surprisingly resilient recent run. They drew 1-1 with Al Diriyah in their most recent outing, a result that extended their unbeaten league start to three games. Before that, they beat Al Taawoun 3-2 and put five past Jeddah in a comfortable win. The two draws against Al Diriyah and Al Ittihad earlier in the period show they can grind out results, but their form over the last 30 days (two wins, three draws) points to a team that struggles to consistently convert pressure into victories.
Al Ahli have been largely dominant over the last month. Their most recent match was a narrow 1-0 win over Auckland FC, which followed a commanding 4-0 demolition of Abha. They did suffer a 3-1 defeat to Al Ettifaq earlier in this stretch, which is the one blot on an otherwise strong record. Four wins from seven across all competitions, combined with a 68% win rate on the year from 40 matches, paints a picture of a team that is operating at a high level consistently. Ivan Toney’s three goals in three appearances underline the attacking threat they carry.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Al Kholood | Al Ahli SC |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 8 |
🚨Check out our dedicated Al Kholood vs Al Ahli SC stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Al Ahli SC the Favourite
- Moneyline Al Kholood 7.26 | Al Ahli SC 1.35
- Draw 5.04
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
The moneyline odds tell a clear story. Al Ahli at around 1.35 reflects a team that the market considers close to a certainty in this fixture. The bookmakers’ average of 68% probability for an Al Ahli win aligns with the form data, the head-to-head record, and the squad quality gap between these two sides. Al Kholood at 7.26 offers value only if you believe in a genuine upset, and while they have been hard to beat this season, there is not enough evidence to back them at this stage. The draw at 5.04 is the longest shot of the three outcomes in practical terms, given how one-sided the head-to-head has been.
Possible Starting Lineups
Al Kholood Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Hamed Al-Shanqity
- DF: Edgaras Utkus, Mansour Camara, Ramzi Solan, Shaquille Pinas
- MF: Seydouba Cisse, John Buckley, Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa, Iker Kortajarena Canellada
- FW: Coba Gomes da Costa, Julien Domingues
Des Buckingham looks set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Hamed Al-Shanqity takes the gloves after featuring in all four recent appearances. The back four picks itself based on playing time, with Edgaras Utkus and Mansour Camara covering the wider roles and Ramzi Solan providing composure in the centre. Seydouba Cisse and John Buckley anchor the midfield, with Buckley’s two assists making him a key creative outlet. Iker Kortajarena Canellada is the player to watch: four goals in four matches from a midfield position is a genuine threat that Al Ahli cannot ignore.
Al Ahli SC Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Edouard Mendy
- DF: Roger Ibañez, Merih Demiral, Zakaria Hawsawi, Rayan Hamed Hamidou
- MF: Valentin Atangana Edoa, Ziyad Al-Johani, Francisco Trincão, Eduard Spertsyan
- FW: Ivan Toney, Wenderson Galeno
Marino Pusic is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 as well. Edouard Mendy starts in goal based on his recent appearances. The defensive pairing of Ibañez and Demiral offers real quality, with both players logging near-full minutes across recent matches. Eduard Spertsyan is the creative fulcrum from midfield, and his five combined goal contributions in four matches make him the most dangerous player on the pitch. Ivan Toney leads the line and has been sharp, scoring three times in three appearances. Francisco Trincão provides width and carries a goal threat of his own with one goal and one assist in this run.
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Al Kholood. Source: Official Website
TipsGG Match Prediction
Al Ahli are the pick, and the value bet is Al Ahli to win to nil. Their last three head-to-head wins against Al Kholood produced clean sheets in two of them, and their defensive numbers this season back that trend up. Al Kholood’s attack has goals in it, largely through Kortajarena Canellada, but Al Ahli’s defensive structure under Pusic has been one of the tightest in the league so far.
We predict Al Ahli SC to win this match 2-0 or 3-0. Their territorial dominance, shot volume, and corner generation should overwhelm a Al Kholood side that relies heavily on individual moments rather than sustained pressure. Toney and Spertsyan are the most likely names on the scoresheet.
