Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq prediction, team news and preview

Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq: what the match decides

Al Taawon host Al-Ettifaq at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday 31 October 2026 in round 12 of the Saudi Pro League. The two sides sit far apart in the table, and our analysis leans towards the visitors.

Al Taawon are 17th of 18 with four points from 11 games, from no wins, four draws and seven defeats. They are in the relegation zone, and their goal difference of -14 is the clearest sign of how far they have to climb.

Al-Ettifaq are seventh with 18 points (five wins, three draws, three defeats) and a goal difference of +1. That is 9 points behind leader Al-Hilal Saudi FC, who have 27, but it keeps Ettifaq in the Gulf Club Champions League places. The match gives Taawon a chance to register a first league win and gives Ettifaq a chance to consolidate that position.

Al Taawon and Al-Ettifaq recent form

Across all competitions, Al Taawon's last five read WDLLW: two wins, one draw and two defeats, with six goals scored (1.2 per game) and five conceded (1.0 per game). They kept one clean sheet and failed to score once. Both of their wins came in the AFC Champions League Two, 2-1 against Al-Rayyan SC and 2-0 at Al Faisaly. In the Pro League they drew 1-1 at Al Diriyah and lost 0-1 to Al-Qadisiyah FC and 1-2 at Al Riyadh. At home across those five games they have won one and lost one, scoring two and conceding two.

Al-Ettifaq's last five read DWWLW: three wins, one draw and one defeat, with eight goals scored (1.6 per game) and five conceded (1.0 per game). They kept three clean sheets and scored in every game.

The away record is what stands out. Ettifaq won both recent away games, 1-0 at NEOM and 3-0 at Al Kholood, scoring four and conceding none. Their heaviest recent setback came at home, a 1-4 loss to Al-Ittihad FC on 20 October.

Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq team news

No absences are reported for either side in our data so far, so there are no confirmed injuries or suspensions to weigh. Any late changes will only show once clubs announce them.

Line-ups have not been published yet. They are normally confirmed about an hour before kick-off.

Fitness may still matter. Al Taawon played away in the AFC Champions League Two on 28 October, three days before this game. Al-Ettifaq's last match was on 24 October, so they have had a full week to prepare.

No absences reported so far.

Key storylines for Al Taawon and Al-Ettifaq

For Al Taawon the story is the league table. Their league form reads LLDLL, and they have scored just five goals in 11 games while conceding 19. Their results in the AFC Champions League Two show they can win, but that has not carried over to the Pro League.

Al-Ettifaq arrive with a league form line of WLWDD, so they have not lost in their last three league games. They have a positive goal difference in a tightly packed middle of the table, and their recent run suggests a side that is hard to beat on the road.

The match could change the mood for both clubs. A first win would give Taawon a lift in the relegation fight, while an Ettifaq win would extend their good run and keep them in contention for the top places.

Where Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq will be decided

The main contrast is Taawon's attack against Ettifaq's defence. Taawon average roughly 0.45 league goals per game (5 in 11), while Ettifaq have kept two clean sheets from two recent away games and conceded nothing on the road in that spell. If that trend holds, Taawon will struggle to create enough to trouble the visitors.

The other side of the contest is more open. Taawon concede 1.73 league goals per game (19 in 11), and Ettifaq have scored at least once in each of their last five games. That makes the visitors' attack the likelier source of goals.

Rest could also be a factor. Taawon are on a short turnaround after continental travel, which may affect their intensity in the second half.

Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq head-to-head

The last six Pro League meetings are close. Al Taawon have won three, Al-Ettifaq two and one was drawn, with an average of 2.0 goals per game. Both teams scored in two of the six games, and only one produced more than 2.5 goals.

Taawon have not lost at home in this series. They won 4-1 on 18 September 2025, drew 1-1 on 29 September 2024 and won 1-0 on 27 May 2024. Ettifaq have won the two most recent games in Taawon's absence of goals at their own ground, 1-0 on 3 February 2026 and 1-0 on 26 February 2025. Taawon's 2-0 win away on 16 December 2023 completes the list.

These results come from a different league position for Taawon, so the current form carries more weight than the history.

Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq prediction

Our lean is an Al-Ettifaq win, with a low-scoring match more likely than an open one. Three facts drive that view: Taawon have no league wins and five goals in 11 games, Ettifaq have won both recent away games without conceding, and only one of the last six meetings went over 2.5 goals.

Taawon's home record against Ettifaq, including the 4-1 win in September 2025, is the main reason to stay cautious. A early goal for the hosts, or a quieter display from Ettifaq, would make the match tighter and a draw would become more realistic. Treat this as a lean rather than a certainty.

MATCH PULSE's three AI engines (GPT, Claude and Gemini) publish their independent analysis of the match before kick-off.

How to watch Al Taawon vs Al-Ettifaq

No official broadcasters are listed in our data for this match. To watch live, check the Saudi Pro League's official broadcast partner in your country and its official app.

Only use official, licensed broadcasters in your country for live coverage.

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