Al-Ettifaq come into this one with the kind of recent profile that suits Both Teams To Score: they have scored in five of their last six league games, but they have also failed to keep a clean sheet in seven straight. Their latest home match against Al-Qadsiah finished 3-2, and before that they were involved in a 4-3 win over Al-Fateh, so the scoring pattern has been lively at both ends rather than controlled.
Al-Riyadh are also carrying BTTS-friendly numbers. They have found the net in three of their last six league outings and have gone five matches without a clean sheet, while their away record in the league is poor enough to leave them exposed on the road, with just one away win all season and 31 goals conceded in 13 away games. Even their recent 1-1 draw with Al-Shabab featured chances at both ends, which fits the market better than a low-scoring script.
The head-to-head record adds another useful layer, even if it is not the main reason to support the pick. Al-Ettifaq have avoided defeat in four straight meetings with Al-Riyadh, and the last two league clashes ended 2-0 and 1-0 to Al-Ettifaq, so there is some tension with the BTTS angle. Still, the current season shape is different: Al-Ettifaq have conceded in seven in a row, while Al-Riyadh have been first to concede in five straight, which gives the away side a chance to respond even if they are under pressure early.
There is enough attacking output on both sides to keep goals in the picture. Al-Ettifaq’s home record is strong enough to create chances, with 23 goals scored in 14 home league games, and Al-Riyadh have still managed 26 goals overall despite sitting 16th. The xG projection of 1.6 for Al-Ettifaq and 1.4 for Al-Riyadh points toward both teams contributing, and that sits more naturally with a BTTS call than with either a shutout or a one-sided result.
My prediction is Both Teams To Score at 8/13. Al-Ettifaq have gone seven league matches without a clean sheet, Al-Riyadh have been without one in five, and both sides were on the scoresheet in their latest fixtures. Al-Riyadh’s away defence has been especially fragile, with 31 goals conceded on the road, while Al-Ettifaq’s home games have produced enough chances for a reply even if the 1-1 scoreline is the cleaner fit than a dominant win.
