Al-Taawon vs Al KhaleejPrediction, probable lineups, recent form & season stats

The Saudi Pro League is back and Al-Taawon host Al Khaleej with two sides who finished close together last year. The hosts scored 1.3 a game at home while conceding 1.3, with 87% of those matches over 1.5 but only 39% past two goals and one blank in fourteen. Al Khaleej conceded 1.9 a trip on the road, with 60% of their away games past 2.5. Two sides who score little and concede their share Al-Taawon's profile is that of a team who stay in games without ever dominating them: 1.4 points a match, a clean sheet in 23% of home games and 68% of them seeing both teams score. Their last six at home read 1-1 with Riyadh, 1-2 with Al-Ahli, 0-2 with Al-Ittihad, 1-2 with Al Kholood, 3-2 against Al-Fateh and 1-1 with Al-Hilal. A very closed head-to-head The six previous meetings finished 1-1, 1-1, 0-1, 0-1, 2-0 and 1-1. Not one of the six passed two goals in total, and in four cases the count stopped at two. It is the most solid number behind a short game. The verdict: the ceiling is three goals. All six recent meetings stayed inside two goals in total and Al-Taawon pass two at home in fewer than four games in ten. The Al Khaleej defence, conceding 1.9 a trip, is what needs keeping in mind. I read it around 67%. My take: a traditionally locked fixture, with two sides who cancel each other out.