Al Ittihad vs Al Kholood Prediction 04.05.2026 | Saudi Pro League

Al-Ittihad approach Matchday 31 sitting in a disappointing sixth position, as they look to halt a sequence of uncharacteristic domestic stumbles that has all but derailed their hopes of securing continental qualification.

Following a premature quarter-final exit from the AFC Champions League at the hands of Japanese outfit Machida Zelvia in mid-April, the Tigers responded with a composed 2-0 away victory over Al Taawoun, although a fifth-placed finish now appears to be the ceiling in what has been an inconsistent Saudi Pro League campaign.

Despite suffering a chaotic 4-3 defeat to mid-table dwellers NEOM SC in their most recent home outing, Sergio Conceicao’s men have generally remained defensively reliable on their own turf, as evidenced by a league-high tally of eight clean sheets.

In terms of team news, 21-year-old midfielder Mahamadou Doumbia is expected to be the only absentee for Monday’s low-stakes encounter, while the Portuguese tactician is likely to retain faith in the same starting XI that featured in their latest league fixture.

Al-Kholood make the trip to Jeddah currently languishing in 14th place,, and fully aware that every positive result from this stage onward could prove decisive in their battle to retain their Saudi Pro League status for at least another season.

Under the guidance of Des Buckingham, the Pride of Ar Rass have demonstrated commendable resilience against top-tier opposition this term, most notably pushing Al-Ittihad to their limits in a dramatic 2-2 draw in the King’s Cup semi-final back in March, before prevailing in a tense penalty shootout to secure a historic place in the final.

More recently, Al-Kholood have taken significant strides toward survival, claiming an impressive 2-1 victory over fifth-placed Al-Taawoun, before holding Al-Fayha to a 1-1 draw last time out, results that have helped them maintain a valuable 7-point cushion above the bottom three heading into the final stretch.

However, the visitors will be forced to cope without the services of Myziane Maolida, with the left winger sidelined for several months due to an unspecified injury, leaving him as the only notable absentee for this encounter.