AFC Champions League Preview: Al Ittihad vs. OKMK Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Sep 18)
- The 2023-24 AFC Champions League starts on Monday, September 18.
- Al Ittihad hasn’t looked too impressive lately despite some good results.
- Al Ittihad’s roster value is 20 times that of OKMK.
It’s time for the 2023-24 AFC Champions League! The first round brings us a number of exciting matchups on Monday, September 18, with Al Ittihad vs. OKMK definitely being among those that stand out. The reigning champion of the Saudi Pro League is one of the top favorites to win the Asian Cup, which is why Al Ittihad is expected to have a relatively easy job against OKMK.
How to Watch
- When: Monday, September 18, 2023, at 12:00 p.m ET
- Where: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- How to Watch: Paramount+
Odds
| Game Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Al Ittihad | TBA |
| Draw | TBA |
| OKMK | TBA |
Game Preview
The main goal of Al Ittihad in the 2023-24 season is to retain the Saudi Pro League title in its possession. So far, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are doing alright. They’re sitting top of the SPL table with a 5-0-1 record. However, the fact is that they haven’t been too impressive lately.
On the first day of September, they suffered a defeat to Al Hilal, which was still without Neymar at the time. Then, they narrowly defeated +1300 underdog Al Akhdoud with the only goal of the match being scored by Karim Benzema in the second half.
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They’ve got plenty of things to worry about in the Saudi Pro League, but at least they have a relatively job ahead of them in the AFC Champions League. In the first round of the competition, they’re welcoming OKMK from Uzbekistan, a team whose roster is valued at roughly $7 million. In comparison, the value of Al Ittihad’s squad is estimated to be over $140 million.
Al Ittihad vs. OKMK Prediction
The mere fact that Al Ittihad is worth 20 times more than OKMK tells the whole story. Sure, Santo might decide to give some of his key men a day off on Monday, but even with backup players on the field, the Saudis should be able to grab a win. Actually, anything but a blowout win for the home team would be a huge surprise.
Free Pick:
- Al Ittihad to win & over 3.5 goals
