Saudi football fans will turn their attention to Jeddah on Saturday evening, where Al-Inma Stadium will host a highly anticipated match between Al-Ittihad and their guests, Al-Shabab, in the final round of the eleventh week of the Saudi Professional League. This match is of paramount importance to both teams, who are striving to salvage their seasons and improve their positions in the league standings before it's too late.
A rich history and a historical conflict
The clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Shabab is more than just an ordinary match; it's a new chapter in the historic rivalry between these two giants of Saudi football. Looking at the numbers and statistics, the two teams have met 34 times in the Professional League era. Al-Ittihad holds the advantage, having won 14 matches, while Al-Shabab has secured victory on 11 occasions, with 9 matches ending in a draw. In terms of goals, Al-Ittihad's attack boasts the upper hand, having scored 52 goals against Al-Shabab, compared to Al-Shabab's 44 goals against Al-Ittihad.
The two teams' positions in the standings
The two teams enter the match in contrasting form and under immense pressure from their fans. Al-Ittihad sits in seventh place with 14 points, accumulated from four wins, two draws, and three losses – a position unbecoming of a former champion boasting a star-studded squad. Al-Shabab, on the other hand, faces a more precarious situation, occupying thirteenth place with only eight points. They have managed just one victory, along with five draws and three defeats, placing the coaching staff and players under intense scrutiny.
Cup shadows and fluctuating level
This match comes after a break, and the last encounter between the two sides was in the King's Cup quarter-finals, which ended in a resounding 4-1 victory for Al-Ittihad. Despite this psychological advantage for Al-Ittihad, the team is suffering from a clear inconsistency in form, both in the league and in the AFC Champions League, which has theoretically distanced them from the title race. This makes Saturday's match a real opportunity to reconcile with the fans and return to winning ways.
Significant absences and a squad of stars
In terms of lineup, Al-Ittihad faces significant absences, including their Algerian professional Houssem Aouar due to injury, and Malian Mamadou Doumbia, who is with his national team. However, the team boasts a formidable array of stars capable of making a difference, spearheaded by Frenchman Karim Benzema, his compatriots Moussa Diaby and N'Golo Kanté, as well as Serbian goalkeeper Rajković, Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, and Brazilian Fabinho, supported by prominent local players such as Muhannad Al-Shanqiti and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi.
On the other side, Al-Shabab hopes to overcome its recent technical and administrative problems, which have negatively impacted the team's results. The team will be without its Moroccan striker, Abderrazak Hamdallah, due to injury, depriving fans of a special encounter between the player and his former club. The participation of Brazilian Carlos Junior is also doubtful. Despite these setbacks, Al-Shabab is counting on the experience of its Brazilian goalkeeper, Marcelo Grohe (formerly of Al-Ittihad), and the skill of Belgian Yannick Carrasco, Frenchman Yacine Adli, and Englishman Josh Brownhill to turn the tide and return to Riyadh with a positive result.
