Saudi Arabia U23 vs Qatar U23 — Tips & Analysis

Under 2.5: These two do not score against each other. Their last three meetings finished 1-1, 1-0 and 0-0, which is 1 goal a game. Qatar are the main reason for that. They barely score, getting less than a goal a game, and only 2 of their last 11 games had 3 or more goals in them. Away from home they score even less. They have won 2 of their last 11 and arrive off a 1-4 beating by Korea Republic. Saudi Arabia are the stronger team, but they come in cold. They have not played a competitive game in 249 days, against 3 days for Qatar. They are also using their under 21 squad, two years below the age limit, with no older players called up. Rusty teams start slowly and keep things safe. Nobody is at home here either. The game is in Nagoya on neutral ground, and this result probably decides second place in a three team group. Both sides will look after the ball. A 1-0 Saudi win is the likely finish, and that keeps the total low. The risk is Qatar's soft spell at the back. They let in four against Korea Republic, and 6 of Saudi Arabia's last 13 games had 3 or more goals. One early goal could stretch this open. We still want the quiet game.