Saudi Arabia and South Korea meet in a friendly at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Friday. The Gulf Cup holders pit a five-match clean-sheet run against Son Heung-min’s Korea on neutral ground.

Saudi Arabia bring five straight Gulf Cup clean sheets

Georgios Donis’s side won the Arabian Gulf Cup in October without conceding a goal in five matches, beating the UAE 2-0 in the Jeddah final. Those clean sheets came at home against regional opposition, so Mohammed Al-Owais and the back four face a sterner test in Doha.

The November squad includes Al-Buraikan and Nasser Al-Dawsari, who set up his goal in the final. Salem Al-Dawsari and Hammam Al-Hammami were left out. That opens a place out wide for Marwan Al-Sahafi, while Mohamed Kanno can help protect the back four against South Korea’s midfield runners.

Saudi Arabia predicted lineup vs South Korea (4-3-3): Al-Owais; Abu Al-Shamat, Al-Amri, Tambakti, Al-Harbi; Al-Khaibari, Kanno, Nasser Al-Dawsari; Al-Sahafi, Al-Buraikan, Al-Ammar.

South Korea tightened up after the Uruguay defeat

South Korea lost 4-1 to Uruguay in September, then drew 0-0 with Venezuela and beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in October. Those two clean sheets give interim coach Robert Moreno something to build on. Son Heung-min put them ahead against Uzbekistan, showing how quickly Korea can threaten even in a match with few goals.

Son, Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae are in the Korea squad, with Hwang In-beom available in midfield. Moreno can keep Son close to a centre-forward, as he did against Uzbekistan, and use Lee and Hwang Hee-chan to receive between the lines.

Son, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae and Hwang In-beom are all in the Korea squad, so they keep their spine after two clean sheets in October. Moreno pairs Son with centre-forward Oh Se-hun, with Lee Kang-in and Hwang Hee-chan supporting from midfield.

South Korea predicted lineup vs Saudi Arabia (4-2-2-2): Jo Hyeon-woo; Seol Young-woo, Lee Han-beom, Kim Min-jae, Lee Myung-jae; Park Jin-seop, Hwang In-beom; Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan; Son Heung-min, Oh Se-hun.

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea Prediction

  • Safe Tip: Under 3.5 goals
  • Odds: 1.24 (22Bet)
  • Correct score prediction: Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea
  • 22Bet Booking Code: S7SZK

Key stats:

  • Saudi Arabia conceded no goals across five Arabian Gulf Cup matches.
  • South Korea’s two October friendlies produced a combined two goals.
  • Their January 2024 Asian Cup meeting was 1-1 after 120 minutes (South Korea won on penalties 4-2)

Neither side is built for a shoot-out: Saudi Arabia kept five clean sheets in the Gulf Cup, and South Korea shut out both October opponents. Four or more goals needs both defences to give way.

Their last meeting, the January 2024 Asian Cup last 16, finished 1-1 after 120 minutes, and Saudi Arabia are without Salem Al-Dawsari. That points to another tight game.

The one risk is a friendly opening up, as South Korea’s 4-1 defeat to Uruguay in September showed, but three goals or fewer remains the likelier outcome, which makes Under 3.5 the logical play at 1.24.

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea Prediction, Value Tip

  • Value Tip: Under 2.5 goals
  • Odds: 1.72 (22Bet)
  • 22Bet Booking Code: MYTZK

Under 2.5 goals at 1.72 looks underpriced. The odds imply a 58% chance, yet South Korea’s two October friendlies produced only two goals in total, and Saudi Arabia are without Salem Al-Dawsari, their best-known wide attacker. The market is pricing Korea’s star names, not their recent output.

Saudi Arabia’s back line went five Gulf Cup matches without conceding, and a 1-1 or a 2-0 both stay under 2.5. The risk is an early goal that opens the game up, which is why Under 3.5 is the Safe Tip.

Verdict: Under 3.5 goals (1.24) — Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea.