EL Merriekh Bentiu vs Pyramids FC Prediction

I'm backing Total over 2.5 in this CAF Champions League qualifier on 16 October 2026 at 16:00. Al-Merrikh have steadied the ship with two straight wins, but Pyramids arrive in Juba as the far sharper team. The visitors have won five consecutive matches and scored 15 goals across that run. I see a mismatch in attacking threat here, and that gap should produce goals.

Al-Merrikh's recent form masks real defensive vulnerabilities. Yes, they kept clean sheets in their last two games, but I've seen them exposed under pressure earlier in their run. Pyramids scored at least twice in four of their five wins, and they won't respect a Sudanese side that's still finding consistency. I expect the visitors to break through, and I expect Al-Merrikh to get forward enough to trouble Pyramids' leaky backline, which conceded in three of those five matches.

Form and H2H

I'm struck by how different these teams look right now. Al-Merrikh won 1-0 and 3-0 against Hiiган in the Champions League, which tells me they can be compact and clinical, but that's a far cry from facing Pyramids' firepower. My last-10 data shows Al-Merrikh averaging 0.81 goals for and 1.06 against, which is fragile. They've won two and drawn one of their last ten, but lost four.

Pyramids are operating in a different stratosphere. I'm looking at nine wins and one loss in their last ten, with an average of 2.41 goals for and 0.70 against. That's elite form in this competition. The visitors' five-game winning streak included a 4-1 demolition of Ceramica Cleopatra and a 3-2 Egyptian Cup win. I don't see Al-Merrikh's recent uptick as enough to slow them down.

Best bet

I'm taking Total over 2.5 at the price available on 1xBet. My reasoning is straightforward: Pyramids have shown they can score multiple goals consistently, and I don't trust Al-Merrikh's defense to hold firm for 90 minutes. The visitors conceded in three of their five recent wins, which means they'll likely give up at least one. Al-Merrikh have shown they can score too, especially after their recent improvements. I expect this to be an open match with at least three goals.

Odds to watch

I'll monitor the Both Teams Score market on 1xBet if it becomes available, because I genuinely believe both sides will find the net. Pyramids' attacking output is too strong for Al-Merrikh to shut out, and the hosts have proven they can create chances. I'm also watching the Over 1.5 line, which I see as a floor rather than a ceiling given Pyramids' scoring rate. If the price is right, I'd consider backing Pyramids to win outright, but I prefer the over because it protects me against a narrow away victory.