Lebanon vs Saudi Arabia Predictions

Lebanon have it all to do in their second Group E game in the Asian Cup on Saturday, after losing the opening against Qatar 2-0. Their opponents Saudi Arabia stated their intentions for the tournament with the 4-0 thrashing of Korea DPR and will be aiming to go all the way and lift their fourth Asian Cup title.

Lebanon managed to hold Qatar to a goalless draw heading into the half time break, but were outplayed during the first forty-five minutes and never really threatened their opponents. Qatar found Lebanon tough to break down, but did eventually break the deadlock in the sixty-fifth minute through Bassam Hisham. A one goal lead is always fragile and the Qatar players seemed to recognise that as they pushed forward looking to make it 2-0, which they did through Almoez Ali with eleven minutes on the clock. Lebanon ended the game with just 35% of the overall possession and will need to involve themselves more against Saudi Arabia and improve their finishing, as just one of their five shots landed on target.

As the scoreline suggests, Saudi Arabia dominated the entire ninety minutes against Korea DPR and probably could, and should, have won by an even greater margin. The favourites were 2-0 up through goals from Hattan Babhir and Mohammed Al Fatil before their opponents were reduced to ten-men in the forty-forth minute after Han Kwang-Song’s second yellow card of the half. Salem Al Dawsari added a third goal in the seventieth minute and teammate Fahad Al Muwallad wrapped up a deserved 4-0 win for the Saudi’s with three minutes left on the clock. Saudi Arabia had 73% of the overall possession and saw ten of their seventeen shots go off target, but it didn’t matter in the end as they converted four of their chances and limited Korea DPR to just three shots on target.

The last time these two countries locked horns it was for a friendly in 2014 that finished all square at King Abdullah Sports City. Omar Hawsawi gave the hosts Saudi Arabia the lead in the fifteenth minute, but an own goal from Hassan Muath Fallatah levelled the two clubs less than sixty-seconds later. The teams went in level at the break and following multiple substitutions from both sides during the second half, the game became disjointed and fizzled out. The visitors will have been the happier of the two teams with the result as they had lost their previous two games against Saudi Arabia.

With two wins, three draws, and one defeat from their last six matches, Saudi Arabia claim the title of form favourites heading into Saturday’s match. Lebanon haven’t won, or even scored, in their last six internationals, picking up two goalless draws and suffering four defeats. Captain Hassan Maatouk presents Lebanon’s best goal threat having scored 19 goals in 73 appearances for his county, while Fahad Al-Muwallad has 12 goals in 53 caps for Saudi Arabia and has already scored in this competition.

We’re confident that Saudi Arabia will win to nil on Saturday, and have backed a final score of 3-0. Saudi Arabia have won two of their last three matches against Lebanon and lead the clubs head to head record. Saudi Arabia have kept three clean sheets in their last four internationals, while Lebanon haven’t scored in any of their last six.