Saudi Arabia will look to keep their hopes of automatic qualification to the World Cup alive as they travel to Riffa to take on near-neighbours Bahrain at Thursday teatime in a crucial World Cup qualifier for both.
Saudi’s hopes of qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup and seventh in nine attempts are in doubt, as they are third in Group C, three points behind second-placed Australia with just two qualifiers to play.
Herve Renard’s visitors have picked up just 10 points from a possible 24 (W2-D4-L2) – with both victories coming against bottom side China – but they do come into this clash off the back of a goalless draw away at group winners Japan.
Bahrain can no longer qualify for their first World Cup automatically, but can still make the playoffs, as they sit three points behind Indonesia in fourth, and four off their visitors in third.
The Reds have failed to win since a shock victory away at Australia in their group opener, failing to score in five of those next seven matches.
How the bookies view it: Saudi to be too strong?
Despite failing to win any of their past three qualifiers on the road, BoyleSports make Saudi Arabia 20/21 favourites to collect all three points.
The same firm has Bahrain at 3/1 to end their seven-match winless run in qualifying, whilst the draw is 21/10.
Head to head: Saudi struggles against The Reds
Saudi were held to a goalless draw at home to Bahrain in the reverse fixture, whilst The Reds defeated The Green Falcons just before Christmas en route to winning the 2025 Arabian Gulf Cup.
Players to watch: Al-Dawsari to deliver for Green Falcons
Salem Al-Dawsari fired in an impressive 10 goals across his last nine appearances for club side Al-Hilal, and scored the winner against China for Saudi in March.
Mohamed Maroon scored a brace in Bahrain’s previous World Cup qualifier on home soil, including a 99th-minute equaliser to rescue a point against Indonesia.
Predicted line-ups:
Croatian Head Coach Dragan Talajic has called up a 26-man squad for their final two qualifiers, with it generally being the same players as previous squads.
Herve Renard has called up a 34-man squad ahead of these two crucial qualifiers, but he is expected to be without the injured trio of Mohannad Al-Shanqeeti, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, and Jihad Zekri.
Bahrain Luftalla, Bughammar, Baqer Mahdy, Al Hayam, Al-Khulasi, Saeed, Al-Aswad, Ali Madan, Marhoon, Humaidan, Hasan
Saudi Arabia: Al-Aqidi, Shanqeeti, Al-Tombakti, Lajami, Tharki, Bu Washl, Al-Buraikan, Al Juwayr, Al-Ghamdi, Al-Dawsari, Al-Sahafi
Anything else catch the eye?
To say Saudi’s games in qualifying have been dull is an understatement, with their previous six qualifiers producing just five goals, with Both Teams to Score failing to land in each of them.
Both Teams have failed to score in 6/8 (75%) of Bahrain’s qualifiers in Group C – including a goalless draw in the reverse fixture last October – and backing against goals at both ends seems the obvious play here.
Half of the Green Falcons qualifiers have ended in a stalemate in Group C – including three of their last five – and with three of Bahrain’s last six also finishing in a draw, there’s a decent chance these two nations will share the spoils once again.
GambleAware