Al Hilal — Al Shabab : Match Preview and Prediction for October 31,2025

Match Preview: Al Hilal vs Al Shabab

The seventh round of the Saudi Arabian Championship brings fans one of the most anticipated derbies: Al Hilal hosts Al Shabab. The home team remains undefeated and aims to continue its championship run, while the visitors are desperately seeking stability and confidence against such a formidable opponent.

Al Hilal’s Dominant Form

Their manager’s team is having an impressive start to the season with four wins and two draws, boasting a strong goal difference of 17:6. The ‘Blue Waves’ exhibit excellent balance between attack and defense – on average, they generate 2.3 xG per match and rarely allow opponents to create dangerous opportunities, with an xGA of around 0.8. A convincing 2-0 victory over Al-Ittihad demonstrated the team’s maturity, and their success in the King’s Cup (1-0 against Al-Ahdood) extended their winning streak to seven matches. At home, Al Hilal consistently dominates, maintaining over 65% possession, leveraging rapid wing play, and showcasing confident finishing in front of goal.

Al Shabab’s Inconsistent Start

The visitors have endured an inconsistent beginning to their campaign, collecting only 6 points from six rounds and scoring just 5 goals. Their primary challenge lies in goal conversion, as the team consistently underperforms its xG by almost one goal per game. Even with the presence of star player Yannick Carrasco, their attacking strategies often appear predictable. When playing away from home, Al Shabab has secured two draws but no wins, and in both matches, they were outpossessed and outshot by at least a two-to-one margin.

Betting Recommendation

The disparity in class and current form between the two sides is clear. Al Hilal is currently at its peak performance level, but Al Shabab is capable of putting up a resilient fight through solid defensive organization and cautious, risk-averse play. The visitors rarely suffer heavy defeats, which makes betting on them to stay within a reasonable handicap margin a justified choice. Notably, in the last 10 head-to-head encounters at Al Hilal’s home ground, this specific handicap bet has been successful nine times.