FC Salzburg vs Al Hilal predictions: Saudi side can showcase their talents
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- Al Hilal have lost only two of their last 15 outings
- FC Salzburg have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 matches
- Recommended bet: Al Hilal to win
A 1-1 draw with Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid in their opening game in Group H of the Club World Cup has set Al Hilal up nicely in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages and they will be looking to cash in with their sights lowered against FC Salzburg.
The big-spending Saudi side, in what was their first game under former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi, served it up to Real and that was despite having star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic sidelined through injury.
Al Hilal created a flurry of openings early on, dominating possession and looking more assertive, and they will be relishing a test with Austrian outfit Salzburg.
Salzburg did get off the mark in their opening assignment, coming from a goal down to defeat Pachuca 2-1, but that was a fortuitous success which required a late winner from Karim Onisiwo.
Team news
Having made his debut in Wednesday’s win over Pachuca, Salzburg’s Christian Zawieschitzky will continue to deputise for injured first-choice goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Karim Konate and Nicolas Capaldo remain injured for the Austrian outfit but Onisiwo will be pushing for a start having netted the winner in their opening Club World Cup clash.
As for Al-Hilal, they are again likely to be without former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has a muscle injury.
Nasser Al Dawsari faces a late fitness test otherwise Inzaghi is likely to name the same side that frustrated Real with Marcos Leonardo leading the line.
The stats
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Al-Hilal are unbeaten in six games, drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid last time out, and have lost only two of their last 15 outings.
Salzburg's victory over Pachuca means they have won three games in a row for the first time since March.
Seven of Al-Hilal's last 10 and each of Salzburg's last five matches have gone over 2.5 goals.
Dorgeles Nene has netted eight goals in his last 10 Salzburg appearances.
Both teams to score has landed in nine of Salzburg's last 10 matches and in five of Al Hilal’s last seven fixtures.
Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves has been booked in four of his last six matches.
Prediction
Al-Hilal will be riding high after their hard-fought 1-1 draw with Real Madrid and they do have a squad packed with talent, featuring the likes of Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcolm and Neves.
No Mitrovic would be a blow but it did not stop them putting up a bold fight against Real and this showdown with Salzburg should represent a much easier test.
The Austrian side were 2-1 winners over Pachuca in their opener but they lost the shot count 17-10 against the Mexican minnows and should be feeling slightly fortuitous.
Al Hilal are likely to only get better as world-class manager Inzaghi adapts to his new surroundings and a repeat of the performance they produced against Spanish giants Real should be enough to come through this encounter.
The Saudi side had 13 shots in that showdown and more chances should fall their way against Salzburg, who have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 games.
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