Al Hilal vs Inter Miami Preview and Prediction
Al Hilal vs Inter Miami Preview
Saudi Pro League (SPL) side Al Hilal will face Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Inter Miami in the Riyadh Season Cup on Monday, January 29. This will be a friendly competition in the midseason gap for the SPL and the preseason for the MLS.
Al Hilal enters this contest on the back of an incredible run of form before the break. They won 20 games on the bounce across competitions and are seven points clear at the top of the league table. Halfway through the campaign they have 53 points from 19 games and are well on their way to being crowned champions. They have scored 16 goals in their last five games and have conceded just one, making the Saudi team a force to be reckoned with.
Inter Miami, on the other hand, ended their 2023 season in the MLS on a rather disappointing note. They finished 27th in the overall standings, having earned 34 points in as many games throughout the season. In terms of form, they had a very contrasting end to the campaign compared to their next opponents. Miami failed to register a single win in their final 10 games across competitions, losing six times and drawing four times. They will look to get their preseason up and running with a strong performance after losing 1-0 to Dallas earlier this week.
On that note, let’s take a look at the team news for both sides.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Al Hilal
The SPL leaders will be without their Brazilian superstar Neymar, who has been out injured with a cruciate ligament injury since October. He is likely to return at the end of April and could play some games in Al Hilal’s season run-in.
Meanwhile, suspensions don’t apply for this game since it is a friendly fixture.
Manager Jorge Jesus will likely go with a full-strength squad to give his players some much needed minutes before their league campaign resumes.
Probable XI: Bono (GK), Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Albulayhi, Yasir Al-Shahrani, Mohamed Kanno, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Michael, Salem Al-Dawsari (C), Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Inter Miami
The Miami-based side will be without defenders Franco Negri and Ian Fray, as well as forward Corentin Jean, who are all out long-term with cruciate ligament injuries. Attacking midfielder Facundo Farias was unfortunately the latest to join that list and picked up the same injury earlier this month.
Manager Gerardo Martino too will go with his strongest lineup for this game considering they will look to make a strong start to the 2024 MLS season.
Probable XI: Drake Callender (GK), Noah Allen, Serhiy Kryvtsov, Tomas Aviles, DeAndre Yedlin, Jordi Alba, Julian Gressel, Sergio Busquets, David Ruiz, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi (C).
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Al Hilal vs Inter Miami Head-to-Head & Prediction
Playing in different leagues in different continents, these two clubs have never played a competitive or friendly match before. This will be their first meeting since both clubs were founded.
However, Inter Miami are struggling to find their feet and the right combinations despite key additions. They dominated possession against Dallas in their previous game but looked rusty in the final third. This could be another tough outing for Martino’s men.
Al Hilal will be fresh and raring to go ahead of the resumption of their domestic and continental campaigns. They have the upper hand, with a settled squad and players in form.
Prediction: Al Hilal 4-1 Inter Miami.
Betting Tips
- Over 4.5 Goals: Yes.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes.
- Al Hilal Win: Yes.
Odds
- Al Hilal Win: 2.05
- Draw: 4.00
- Inter Miami Win: 3.00
Top Players to Watch
Al Hilal
Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will be in the spotlight as he ended the first half of the season with 21 goal contributions in the SPL. The Serbian had seven more than Malcom in second place and has been the focal point of Al Hilal’s attack this season.
With a whopping 25 goals and five assists in 27 games across competitions, Mitrovic will look to carry that stellar form into the second half of the campaign. His aggression and adeptness in the air as well as striking with both feet makes him a lethal striker on his day.
Inter Miami
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will be in the spotlight as he gears up for his first full season with Inter Miami, having joined midway through the last campaign. However, despite joining late, the 36-year-old has 11 goals and five assists in 14 appearances for the club so far.
Now, with former Barcelona teammates Busquets, Suarez and Alba all in the squad alongside him, Messi will look to stamp his authority on games.
Al Hilal vs Inter Miami Timings & Telecast
- Date & Time: Monday, January 29th 11:30 PM (IST).
- India: There will be no live telecast, but the game will be streamed on Apple TV.
- Saudi Arabia: SHAHID TV
- UK: Apple TV & DAZN.
- US: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV).
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