Al Raed host third-placed Al-Ahli in the penultimate round of the Saudi Pro League on Thursday, keen to end their season at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on a positive note.
The hosts returned to winning ways last time out, while the side ranked third seek a third straight success.
Match preview
Al Raed recorded maximum points for the first time since the start of April, defeating Al Wehda 1-0 away from home.
Karim El Berkaoui netted the game's only goal for Igor Jovicevic's men, whose clean sheet was their first since beating Al Hazm (2-0) on April 7.
Raed Al Tahadi aim for consecutive league victories for the first time since December when they notched victories over Al Ittihad (3-1) and Abha (4-3), with the inability to win two games on the trot underlining the lack of momentum for most of the season.
However, that eventuality is unlikely for a club that has claimed one home win in 2024, losing twice and playing out two draws.
Be that as it may, Jovicevic's side are on a three-match unbeaten sequence Buraidah and should welcome the chance to make that four home games without losing against the league's third-placed side.
Al-Ahli have very little to play for in the next two games, having already secured their place in the Saudi Pro League, even if Al-Taawoun sit six points behind Matthias Jaissle's team.
The Royals cannot be supplanted by the fourth-placed club due to their superior head-to-head over the Buraidah-based outfit, having claimed victories in the fixtures between the sides.
Thus, Al-Ahli have little to play for except ending the campaign strongly, as they are a staggering 17 points behind league runners-up Al Nassr.
They seem intent on ending positively despite a 2-1 loss to champions Al Hilal at the start of May, but that outcome has not deterred Jaissle's men from notching two wins on the bounce against Al Shabab (2-1) and Abha (5-1).
Having claimed three wins in their last four top-flight games, the away fans should back their side to make that four triumphs in five against bottom-half opponents.
Team News
Abdullah Al-Yousif and Andre Moreira are not expected to play any part for the hosts in the penultimate round because of injury issues.
Julio Tavares netted both goals in Al Raed's last home win on April 7, and the seven-goal man seeks to add to his return in 2023-24.
Roberto Firmino has been involved in four goals (two goals, two assists) in his last five appearances for the visitors, and the former Liverpool man could add to his 14 involvements (eight goals, six assists) on Thursday.
Several Al-Ahli players are in the wars, with Abdullah Al-Ammar, Ali Majrashi, Gabri Veiga (ankle), Abdullah Otayf (knee), Haitham Asiri (ligament tear), Allan Saint-Maximin and Mohammed Al-Majhad (knee) not anticipated to play.
Al Raed possible starting lineup:
Al Harbi; Al-Dosari, Gonzalez, Al-Faed, Al-Jayzani; Alsubaie, Normann; Fouzair, El Berkaoui, Al-Ghamdi; Tavares
Al-Ahli possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Ibanez, Demiral, Hindi, Balobaid; Aljohani, Kessie; Mahrez, Firmino, Al-Nabit; Al-Buraikan
We say: Al Raed 1-2 Al-Ahli
Despite neither side requiring a result on Thursday, Al-Ahli are backed to get the better of their hosts, who have struggled for consistency for nearly the season's entirety. The away side's individual quality and slightly superior momentum give them the edge against bottom-half Al Raed.
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