Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad club faces a major challenge ahead of its anticipated match against Qatar’s Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League, as the attacking duo, Dutchman Steven Bergwijn and international striker Saleh Al-Shehri, continue their rehabilitation and fitness programs in a race against time to catch up with the important continental encounter.
Both players are suffering from calf injuries, which have kept them out of team training. Al-Shehri sustained his injury during the match against Al-Fateh in the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League, while Bergwijn was injured earlier during the match against Al-Ettifaq in the 16th round of the same competition. These potential absences put the coaching staff, led by the manager, in a difficult position, given the pivotal role the duo play in Al-Ittihad's attack.
The importance of the attacking duo in numbers
The numbers clearly demonstrate the impact of Bergwijn and Al-Shehri's absence on the team's attacking prowess. Saleh Al-Shehri has featured in 19 matches across all competitions this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 514 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Dutch star Steven Bergwijn, who joined the team from Ajax Amsterdam, quickly proved his worth, appearing in 20 matches, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 1644 minutes, making him one of the team's top scorers.
General context and importance of the match
These injuries come at a crucial time for Al-Ittihad, who are aiming for a strong start in the new edition of the AFC Champions League, the continent's premier club competition. Matches between Saudi and Qatari teams are always special and highly competitive, adding to the importance of Tuesday evening's encounter. Al-Ittihad currently sit sixth in their group with nine points, while Al-Gharafa are ninth with six points, making a win essential for both sides to boost their chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
Expected impact on the team
The absence of players of Bergwijn's caliber and Al-Shehri will not only affect the team's scoring ability but will also reduce the tactical options available to the coach. Bergwijn is known for his versatility in playing multiple attacking positions and his speed in penetrating defenses, while Al-Shehri provides the option of a pure striker capable of finishing attacks inside the penalty area. The team will have to rely on other players to compensate for this shortage, which puts additional pressure on the remaining players to shoulder the responsibility in this crucial match that Al-Ittihad fans are eagerly anticipating, hoping for the swift return of their stars to bolster the team's campaign both domestically and continentally.
