Al-Ittihad, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions, received a significant morale and technical boost ahead of their upcoming match against Al-Fayha in the 22nd round of the competition. This welcome news for the club's fans comes with the confirmation that their Dutch international star, Steven Bergwijn, has fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him recently.
Bergwijn had been suffering from a muscle injury that required an intensive treatment and rehabilitation program under the supervision of the club's medical staff. After successfully completing the program, the player actively participated in the team's group training sessions, confirming his physical and technical readiness to participate in the Al-Fayha match, which will be held at Al-Majma'ah Sports City Stadium. Bergwijn's return is considered a significant boost to the coach's squad, as the player possesses high technical abilities in playmaking and goal-scoring, qualities the team missed in some of the matches he missed.
General context and importance of the match
This match comes at a crucial juncture in the Saudi Arabian football season. Following the historic surge in the Roshan League, which attracted a constellation of the world's brightest football stars, the competition for the title and top positions has become fiercely intense. Al-Ittihad, boasting stars like Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté, aims to close the gap with the leading teams and cling to its hopes of retaining the title or at least securing a spot in next season's AFC Champions League. Meanwhile, Al-Fayha has been performing well this season and seeks a positive result against the defending champions to improve its position in the standings, making this a difficult and unpredictable encounter.
The expected impact of Bergwyn's return
Domestically, Bergwijn's return will provide the team with additional attacking options and strength on the wings and in the attacking midfield, increasing their ability to penetrate opposing defenses. Continentally, the availability of all professional players, including Bergwijn, is vital for Al-Ittihad, who are also competing strongly in the AFC Champions League, where they aspire to go far in the continent's premier club competition. Having a full squad enhances the team's ability to compete strongly on two fronts and supports their ambitions to achieve accomplishments befitting their history and stature as one of the giants of Saudi and Asian football.
