Saudi Arabia take on Oman in the round 1 match of Asian Cup group stage. The match will be played on Tuesday, January 16th at Khalifa International Stadium (Doha).
Saudi Arabia performed poorly in friendly matches throughout the past year, alternating between losses and draws. However, when it came to crucial matches, Saudi Arabia stepped up. The team started the global qualification campaign excellently in November, defeating Pakistan 4-0 and confidently overcoming Jordan 2-0. In early January, Saudi Arabia played three friendly matches, winning against Lebanon 1-0, Hong Kong 2-0, and drawing with Palestine 0-0. This forms a streak of 5 matches in which the team has not conceded a goal. Saudi Arabia's group is relatively straightforward, with Oman, Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan alongside. Advancing to the playoffs is a clear expectation for Roberto Mancini's team, and starting their journey with a victory against Oman is well within Saudi Arabia's capabilities.
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Oman is a relatively strong team by Asian standards, but the team has a ceiling, especially when facing top teams. Oman had a modest start to the global qualification, with a good 3-0 victory over Taiwan but a concerning 0-1 loss to Kyrgyzstan. In the previous World Cup qualification, the teams faced each other twice, and Saudi Arabia won both matches 1-0. There was a direct encounter last year where Oman secured a victory, but it was in the less significant "Persian Gulf Cup," and both teams were not in their optimal lineups. Now, with Saudi Arabia in optimal form, it will be much harder for Oman to repeat that success.
Saudi Arabia's impressive defense has not conceded a goal in five consecutive matches. While Oman is a strong team, it's not at the top level in Asian football. I would choose the betting option: Home Win.
Prediction for the match: Saudi Arabia to win.
