Al-Ittihad's first football team is preparing for a crucial and decisive match in their continental campaign, as they host Uzbekistan's Nasaf in the sixth round of the AFC Champions League group stage. The highly anticipated match will take place at 9:15 PM on Tuesday, with Al-Ittihad aiming to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to get their campaign back on track.
The federation's position in the tournament and the challenges of the new system
This match comes at a time when Al-Ittihad is experiencing an unstable continental campaign. The team has played five matches in the group stage (league round) of the new tournament format, managing only two wins and suffering three defeats, without a single draw. This inconsistency has left the team in eighth place with six points, the last qualifying spot for the knockout rounds, leaving virtually no room for error in the remaining matches.
This match is of particular importance given Al-Ittihad's long history in Asia, having previously won the continental title twice in a row (2004 and 2005). Fans expect the current generation, led by international stars, to restore those glories, especially in light of the fierce competition from West Asian clubs.
Scenarios for Al-Ittihad's qualification to the Round of 16
To secure a place in the Round of 16 and avoid complicated calculations, Al-Ittihad needs to maintain full focus in the remaining three matches. The qualification scenarios are as follows:
- The ideal scenario (perfect score): Al-Ittihad winning all three of their remaining matches will raise their points tally to 15. This tally will not only guarantee the team qualification but also a place in contention for the top four positions in the West Zone, giving them an advantage in the knockout stage draw.
- The alternative scenario (complex calculations): If the team wins two matches and draws one, they will reach 13 points. In this case, Al-Ittihad will enter a complex calculation process, waiting for their direct rivals in the standings to slip up, specifically Sharjah FC (UAE), Al-Duhail SC (Qatar), and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai.
The readiness of the Al-Ittihad squad and the significant absences
Regarding preparations, Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição breathed a sigh of relief after confirming the readiness of most of the team's key players during the final training session in Jeddah. Conceição is seeking to appease the angry fans after the recent heavy defeat against Al-Duhail (4-2), emphasizing to the players the necessity of fighting for the club's honor.
Despite the overall readiness, the team will be missing the services of Algerian star Houssem Aouar due to a muscle injury that also kept him away from his national team, in addition to the absence of Malian Mohamedou Doumbia, who is with his national team on continental duty.
The expected lineup for Al-Ittihad against Nasaf
Conceição is expected to field his strongest lineup to secure an early victory against the Uzbek team, who are at the bottom of the standings with zero points. The lineup may be as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Bridge Rajkovic.
- Defense line: Mario Mitai, Danilo Pereira, Hassan Kadash, Muhannad Al-Shanqiti.
- Midfield: N'Golo Kante, Fabinho Tavares, Roger Fernandes.
- The attacking line: Steven Bergwijn, Moussa Diaby, and Karim Benzema.
Facing Nasaf is not just a match to win three points, but a turning point that may determine the features of the continental federation's season. Will the "Tigers" succeed in restoring their Asian prestige?
