Prediction Saudi Arabia vs Côte d'Ivoire 2025 – Betting Tips for the Friendly International on 14/11/2025

Preview — Riyadh stage set for a tactical friendly

The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh will host what promises to be an intriguing friendly as Saudi Arabia welcome Côte d'Ivoire on 14/11/2025. With a capacity of 68,752 and a December-like buzz already building around the fixture, both teams arrive with contrasting recent runs but similar tactical caution. Saudi Arabia have shown a patchwork of results across their last fixtures — narrow victories and a steady string of draws — while Côte d'Ivoire have enjoyed a more consistent winning rhythm, especially against lesser-ranked African sides. In friendlies like this, coaches often prioritise structure and experimentation, and the data on recent performances points toward a game that could be tight and measured rather than open and free-scoring.

Form and momentum — what the numbers say

Saudi Arabia’s last five results include hard-fought draws and narrow wins, capped by a 0-0 stalemate with Iraq in September's World Cup qualifying round. Their attacking numbers at home show promise — 20 total shots with 12 on target across the sample — but goalscoring has been modest, with four goals at home and just one conceded. Côte d'Ivoire carry a more potent recent scoring record against certain opponents, notably a 3-0 win over Kenya and a 7-0 romp in the Seychelles tie. Yet their underlying shot quality looks mixed: 22 total shots but only four on target in the available stats, indicating plenty of attempts but fewer that truly threatened. Crucially for both sides, clean sheets have featured in recent fixtures: Saudi recorded a shutout against Iraq and Côte d'Ivoire delivered goalless draws against tougher opposition like Gabon and held Canada before penalties.

This paints a picture of two teams likely to approach the friendly with organisation first. Expect Saudi to use home advantage and higher shot-on-target efficiency to probe, while the Ivorians may rely on structured attacking transitions and set-piece moments — the kind of measured approach that often keeps overall goal counts low in neutral, experimental games.

What to watch

Saud Abdulhamid’s influence from Saudi’s previous outing and Amad Diallo’s recent form for Côte d'Ivoire underline the small individual sparks that can decide a tight friendly. Managers may also experiment with personnel and shape, which tends to favour lower-scoring outcomes as cohesion is tested rather than risked. The stadium atmosphere will pressure both sides to be careful, and historical sample shows underwhelming over/under numbers for both teams in the provided stats.

For readers who enjoy sharpening their betting approach, a useful primer is available on the right time to place bets on goal markets, and for broader strategic thinking about match markets the guide on Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets is worth a read.

Betting suggestion: Under 2.5 goals. Based on both teams’ recent defensive solidity, Saudi’s modest home goal returns, Côte d'Ivoire’s mixed shot quality despite wins, and the typical cautious approach of international friendlies played away from competitive pressure, the goal market appears the safer play here.