JEDDAH: The clash between Al-Shabab and Al-Ahli in Riyadh headlines a slate of five matches in round 13 today of the Saudi Professional League.
Both teams along with Al-Ittifaq are coming fresh off victories in the last round.
Shabab is looking to collect the game’s three points and narrow the gap on Hilal and Ittihad especially after winning the last match against Najran.
Ahli is likewise trying to build on the momentum of its 2-0 win against Al-Nasr in Jeddah. Shabab is third with 25 points and five points away adrift of second-place Hilal. Ahli jumped to sixth position after their last win with 16 points and could moved up a notch further if it beats Shabab.
Hilal is unlikely to get off easily against Al-Raid in Buraidah. Al-Raid showed great promise against Ittihad, holding its own against the league leader before eventually dropping a 2-0 decision.
Al-Raid proved a tough opponent when playing in front of its home crowd and this could be the gift Ittihad was searching — for Hilal to lose one match and help Ittihad to increase its lead. Hilal has so far been keeping Ittihad ahead by just three points gap. Hilal has 30 points in second place. Al-Raid is 10th with nine points.
Ittihad faces a tough match at prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadium in Jeddah when the team faces Al-Watani.
Abha and Najran play against each other in Abha while Ittifaq hosts Al-Hazem in Dammam in the last match of the round.
