Al-Ittihad's first football team faces a crucial Asian test this Tuesday evening when they host Uzbekistan's Nasaf Qarshi in Jeddah, in the sixth round of the AFC Champions League. This match is of paramount importance to the "Dean" squad, who have made securing the three points their primary objective to boost their chances of advancing to the Round of 16.
A long history supports Al-Ittihad against Uzbek clubs
Al-Ittihad enters the match armed with a resounding historical advantage over Uzbek clubs in various continental competitions. In 22 previous encounters between the "Tigers" and Uzbek teams, Al-Ittihad has secured victory in 13 matches, while 7 ended in a draw, and only suffered defeat twice. The statistics reflect Al-Ittihad's formidable attacking prowess in these matches, with their attack scoring 38 goals while conceding only 17, giving the team a significant morale boost before kickoff.
The teams' positions and the complex qualification calculations
This match comes at a crucial juncture in the group stage (league format) of the newly revamped "Elite" tournament. Al-Ittihad currently sits in eighth place with six points, earned from two wins and three losses, a position that puts them on the brink of elimination if they fail to turn things around, as only the top eight teams advance to the next round. Meanwhile, Nasaf is in dire straits, occupying last place in the group with zero points after losing all of their previous matches, leaving them with little choice but to play to salvage some pride.
The Stars' Battalion and the Challenge of Absences
Despite Al-Ittihad's recent inconsistent form in domestic and continental competitions, they are still considered favorites due to their significant technical superiority. The coaching staff will deploy all their best players to secure an early victory. Although the team will be without Algerian star Houssem Aouar due to injury, which also sidelined him from his national team, the squad boasts a wealth of world-class players capable of making a difference.
Al-Ittihad fans are pinning their hopes on French captain Karim Benzema, his compatriots N'Golo Kanté and Moussa Diaby, as well as Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, Serbian goalkeeper Rajković, Brazilian Fabinho, and Portuguese Danilo Pereira. This constellation of stars puts Al-Ittihad under pressure not only to win, but also to deliver a performance worthy of the reputation of Saudi football, which is currently experiencing an unprecedented sporting boom.
NASAAF... Searching for a moral lifeline
For its part, Nasaf enters the match with its chances of qualifying virtually extinguished, but it hopes to put on a different performance and try to embarrass the host in front of its home crowd. The Uzbek team boasts several players who could pose a threat on the counter-attack, such as striker Huseyn Nurshaev, Serbian Stefan Ćolović, Murodbek Rakhmatov, and Sherzod Nasrullayev. The match remains an opportunity for Al-Ittihad to appease its fans and reaffirm its worthiness to compete for the continental title, which it has won twice before in its history.
