Bahrain vs Yemen Predictions
Bahrain and Yemen meet in Jeddah on Wednesday, with both sides already eliminated from the Gulf Cup.
Considering both nations' recent form, a low-key contest seems likely on Wednesday.
Under 2.5 goals is my best bet in this dead rubber contest.
Under 2.5 Goals Appeals in Jeddah
- Bahrain failed to score in their last 3 matches
- Bahrain scored an average of 0.70 goals per game in their last 10 matches
- Yemen have seen under 2.5 goals in 3 of their last 4 matches against Bahrain
- Yemen failed to score in their last 2 matches
Level in Recent H2H Between Bahrain and Yemen
Bahrain and Yemen have met on three occasions since 2017. Both nations claimed one win, while one game finished level.
Yemen secured a 2-1 Gulf Cup win in their most recent encounter two years ago.
Bahrain won seven of nine encounters between 2009 and 2017.
Bahrain Unable to Defend Gulf Cup Crown
Bahrain head into Wednesday's final Group B fixture already eliminated from the competition after a dire 3-0 defeat against the UAE on Sunday.
The Gulf Cup holders were second best in Jeddah. Ousmane Camara put the Emiratis ahead in the first half before Guilherme Bala and Ali Saleh secured a simple win for the UAE.
The UAE outshot Bahrain 19-3 and finished with a far higher xG total (1.91-0.21).
Dragan Talajic’s side began the defence of their title with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Qatar before Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the UAE confirmed their elimination.
Bahrain’s poor form long predates their Gulf Cup exit. The Reds have won just two of their last 14 matches, losing eleven, while scoring only nine goals.
Yemen Eliminated by Qatar
Yemen head into Wednesday’s Group B dead rubber after Sunday’s narrow 1-0 defeat against Qatar confirmed their elimination.
Yusuf Abdurisag’s 64th-minute goal secured a well-deserved win for the Maroons. Qatar could have scored more, with final xG totals of 3.14 and 0.36 highlighting their dominance on Sunday.
Yemen goalkeeper Mohammed Aman kept his side in contention with seven saves, including Akram Afif's missed penalty, but Yemen lacked quality in the final third.
Al-Yaman as-Sa'eed had only two efforts on target.
Sunday’s defeat at least showed improvement on their 4-0 defeat against the UAE, when Yemen conceded three times in a disastrous first-half.
Past performances at this competition have been similarly poor. Yemen lost 12 of 14 Gulf Cup games since 2017. The West Asian nation scored only six goals in those matches.
Bahrain vs Yemen Squads & Team News
Bahrain Squad
Goalkeepers: Ebrahim Lutfalla, Omar Salem, Mohamed El Garably
Defenders: Waleed Al Hayam, Sayed Baqer, Amine Benaddi, Hamad Al-Shamsan, Abdulla Al-Khulasi, Vincent Emmanuel, Ahmed Rabea
Midfielders: Sayed Dhiya Saeed, Kamil Al-Aswad, Ali Madan, Mohamed Marhoon, Mahdi Al-Humaidan, Jasim Al-Shaikh, Ebrahim Al-Khattal, Abbas Al-Asfoor, Omar Saber, Hasan Al-Karrani, Mohammed Abdulqayoom, Ali Al-Doseri
Forwards: Mohamed Al-Romaihi, Mahdi Abduljabbar, Hashim Sayed Isa, Husain Abdulkarim
With Bahrain already eliminated, Dragan Talajic could rotate his side for Wednesday’s final group fixture.
Hasan Al-Karrani, Mohammed Abdulqayoom, Ali Al-Doseri, Ahmed Rabea and Jasim Al-Shaikh are in contention to start after coming off the bench last weekend.
Talajictook responsibility for the heavy 3-0 defeat against the UAE:
"I take responsibility for everything, because I am the one who chooses the players who take part. When we win, the players are the heroes and I stand behind them, and when bad things happen, as has happened now, I stand in front of them, and everyone can blame me."
Yemen Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Aman, Osamah Mokref, Osama Haidar
Defenders: Nader Sahal, Haroon Al-Zubaidi, Emad Al-Godaimah, Rami Al-Wasmani, Saqr Al-Darbi, Ali Al-Dugin, Radhawan Al-Hubaishi, Hamza Al-Rimi
Midfielders: Hamzah Al-Surabi, Nasser Al-Gahwashi, Mohammed Al-Najjar, Abdulwasea Al-Matari, Osama Anbar, Omar Al-Golan, Adel Abbas Qasem, Tareq Shihab, Nawaf Abdullah, Anes Al-Maari
Forwards: Omar Al-Dahi, Mamdooh Bin Ajaj, Abdul Majeed Sabarah, D'Mani Mellor, Ahmed Maher
Ould Ali may be less keen to tinker with his first XI after a solid display in their 1-0 defeat against Qatar last weekend.
Nasser Mohammedoh could come into Yemen’s starting XI after appearing as a half-time substitute against Qatar.