Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are set to face off against each other in the fourth round of AFC qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday evening.
Both teams have been placed in Group B alongside Iraq, and the winner of the group will book an automatic place in the finals held in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Indonesia are in the better form of the two sides, having won three of their last five games in total in all competitions. However, given that they rank a whopping 60 places behind Saudi Arabia in the official FIFA World Rankings, they will still go into this match very much as the underdogs.
Saudi Arabia have taken a dip in form of late, winning just once in five matches across all competitions. However, they have played teams that rank significantly above them in the world rankings, and so perhaps those results should not be judged too harshly.
Indonesia won the last H2H between the two sides in November, but that is their only victory in eight previous meetings in all competitions. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia should fancy themselves to take home all three points.
How the bookies view it: Saudi Arabia strong favourites
Boylesports have installed Saudi Arabia as the 4/9 odds-on favourites to win this one. A draw can be backed at 14/5 odds with the same bookmaker, while an Indonesia victory is rated at 6/1.
Recent head-to-head: Indonesia's rare victory
Indonesia's 2-0 win back in November was their first in eight previous meetings against Saudi Arabia. Marselino Ferdinan scored both goals, while Justin Hubner was also sent off for a second bookable offence late on.
Players to watch: Al-Dawsari key for Saudi Arabia
Ramadhan Sananta was among the goalscorers as Indonesia thrashed Chinese Taipei 6-0 just last month, and could start here.
Salem Al-Dawsari has scored 25 senior goals for Saudi Arabia, and will be hoping to add that total on Wednesday.
Predicted lineups
Ole Romeny, who has scored three goals in his previous four senior caps for Indonesia, will unfortunately miss this clash through injury.
Saudi Arabia have reported no fresh injury concerns in their squad ahead of the match.
Indonesia: Argawinata; Ridho; Idzes, Hubner; Sayuri, Haye, Pelupessy, Verdonk; Vikri, Sananta, Kambuaya.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Aqidi; Al-Amri, Boushal, Al-Tambakti, Al-Harbi; Al-Dawsari, Kanno, Al-Hassan, Ali; Al-Shehri, Al-Buraikan.
Anything else catch the eye?
With Saudi Arabia such big favourites to win this one, Handicaps could be a market to explore. Boylesports are offering 7/5 odds for the Saudis to win with a -1 handicap.
Indonesia will still pose a threat though, as they did in the last meeting, while two of the previous four H2Hs in all competitions have seen both teams score. Both Teams To Score (BTTS) again is 23/20 odds with Boylesports.
The Total Goals market could also be one to explore if we are also backing BTTS. A total of 12 goals have been scored in Indonesia's last three matches across all competitions at an average of four per match, so backing Over 3.5 total goals could be tempting at 11/4 odds with Boylesports.
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