Saudi Arabia will look to continue the dominance of their World Cup qualifier group when they welcome Oman to the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah this Thursday.
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City
Key Statistics
Saudi Arabia have scored nine goals in their qualifier games, more than any other team in their group (level with Australia).
The hosts have conceded just three goals in six qualifier games (level with Japan in their group).
Oman have won just one of their last six games in all competitions (D2, L3).
The visitors have kept one clean sheet in their last ten games in all competitions.
Head to head
In eleven head-to-head meetings between both sides, Saudi Arabia have beaten Oman four times while the visitors have two times (90 minutes only) and four games ended level.
Latest performances in all competitions
Saudi Arabia: L-D-L-W-D
Oman: L-W-L-D-L
Saudi Arabia will look to continue their unbeaten run in the World Cup qualifier on Thursday when they face Oman.
The hosts are sitting top of Group B after winning five of their opening six games (D1). With 16 points to their name, they are currently four points ahead of Japan in second.
Their target is to finish top of the table ahead of the rest, and they can achieve that by taking at least eight points from their remaining four games.
However, they come into this tie on the back of a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the FIFA Arab Cup. The loss was their second in their last three games, and they extended their winless run to three games after a loss to Jordan and a draw with Palestine.
They will look to end that winless run by beating Oman and will fancy their chances against their visitors judging by their superior head-to-head record in this fixture.
Possible Saudi Arabia starting line-ups
Zaid Al-Bawardi (GK); Ali Majrashi, Waleed Al-Ahmed, Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti, Naif Almas; Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Salman Al-Faraj, Turki Al-Ammar, Ayman Yahya; Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Abdullah Radif.
Injured: Zaid Al-Bawardi, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Salman Al-Faraj
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Oman
Oman’s chances of progressing to the next stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup took a big hit the last time they faced Japan.
The visitors were beaten 1-0 by their Asian counterparts, leaving them sitting fourth in Group B, four points behind Australia, who are occupying the playoff spot in the group.
They come into this tie on the back of a 2-1 loss to Tunisia in the FIFA Arab Cup, meaning that they have won just once of their last six games in all competitions.
A win in this game will restore some hope that they can progress to the next round of the WCQ. They need to win all four remaining group games to progress to the next round, while a loss in this game and a good result for Australia will effectively end their chances of playing in the World Cup next year.
Possible Oman starting line-ups
Ibrahim Al Mukhaini (GK); Ahmed Al Kaabi, Juma Al Habsi, Ahmed Al Khamisi, Mahmood Mabrook; Arshad Al-Alawi, Harib Al Saadi, Salaah Al Yahyaei, Abdullah Fawaz; Al-Mandher Al Alawi, Khalid Al Hajri.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Oman
