Pitso Mosimane’s survival odds: A look at Abha’s record against final 2 opponents
With only two matches remaining in the Saudi Pro League season, Pitso Mosimane’s Abha Club faces a desperate battle for survival. Their fate hinges on their performances against Al-Khaleej and Al-Hazm, two teams they have faced earlier in the season with mixed results.
On Thursday evening, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach’s team will host Al-Khaleej at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium. Then on Monday, 27 May, they will finish their campaign against Al-Hazm at Al-Hazm Club Stadium. Both matches are at 20H00.
Abha will be facing Khaleej for the third time this season. They met in the league and the King Cup of Champions quarter-finals in December 2023 and Khaleej won both matches 3-1 and 2-1. On the other hand, Abha and Hazm will be meeting for the second time this campaign, following a 1-1 draw in December 2023.
Heading into the encounter, Abha and its last two opponents have been struggling for form and consistency in their recent games. In the last five encounters, Abha have one victory, one draw and three defeats and Khaleej are winless following three draws and two defeats. Relegated Hazm have one win, two draws and two losses.
MOSIMANE’S ABHA CLUB IN DESPERATE NEED FOR MAXIMUM POINTS
With only two matches left to wrap up the 2023/24 campaign, relegation-threatened Abha are in desperate need of maximum points to close the gap.
So far, they lay 17th in the standings after collecting 29 points. They are on par with 16th-placed Al-Akhdoud, then they are two points shy from Al-Tai and Al-Riyadh who are 14th and 15th respectively.
To stay afloat and keep survival hopes alive, Abha must defeat Khaleej which will take their points tally to 32. Then they must hope that Riyadh, Tai and Akhdoud all drop points in their matches.
In addition, Abha should try to be solid at the back after keeping only three clean sheets in their last 11 encounters. In those matches, Mosimane’s charges let in a massive 28 goals. Also in attack, they are struggling for goals, only finding the back of the net eight times in 11 matches.
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