**Al-Ahli are chasing momentum at home, but Al-Hazem's compact shape could make this trickier than the odds suggest.** 🏟️ The hosts have been wildly inconsistent—hammering Al-Riyadh 5-0 then getting dismantled by Al-Hilal—while the visitors are grinding out results with draws and tight wins.

Al-Ahli's firepower (I. Toney, A. Bondarenko up top) should dominate possession, yet Al-Hazem's defensive discipline and M. Konate's midfield control have kept them competitive. The head-to-head tells the story: Al-Ahli lead 8 wins from 10, but that one Al-Hazem win proves they're no pushover.

Key storylines:

- **I. Toney and A. Bondarenko** need to convert chances; Al-Ahli's form swings on finishing
- **M. Konate's midfield engine** will anchor Al-Hazem's attempts to stay compact and nick a goal on the break
- **Home advantage at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium** gives Al-Ahli the edge, but sloppy defending (see: 0-3 vs Al-Hilal) is the real risk

Expected lineups:

- **Al-Ahli**: E. Mendy, R. Ibañez, M. Demiral, S. Y. Balobaid, I. Toney, A. Bondarenko, E. Spertsyan, F. Al-Buraikan
- **Al-Hazem**: I. Zaied, S. A. Rashed, S. Tanker, M. Konate, A. Pululu, K. Alsubaie, Y. Oumarou

Prediction:

**Al-Ahli 2-0 Al-Hazem** — the hosts have too much talent to slip up twice in a row, and Al-Hazem's lack of attacking depth should finally show.