On Tuesday evening, the eyes of Saudi football fans will be on the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Mahala, Abha, where Al-Ittihad will be a heavy guest for their counterpart Damac, as part of the fifteenth round of the Saudi Professional League, in a match that carries different ambitions between the desire of the Dean to continue the march towards the top, and the attempts of the home team to correct the course.
A balanced history and a fierce conflict
This match takes on special significance given the exciting rivalry between the two teams in the professional league era. Despite the significant historical differences, Damac has proven to be a formidable opponent for Al-Ittihad in recent years. The two sides have met 12 times previously, with Al-Ittihad holding a slight edge with 5 victories, while Damac pulled off an upset on 4 occasions, and 3 matches ended in a draw. The statistics indicate a relatively even attacking record in these encounters, with Al-Ittihad scoring 18 goals compared to Damac's 14.
Al-Ittihad: A squad of stars in search of a perfect record
Al-Ittihad enters the match with sky-high morale, buoyed by a remarkable run of positive results. The team has recorded five consecutive victories, firmly propelling them back into the title race. "The Dean" (Al-Ittihad) aims to capitalize on this resurgence to continue putting pressure on the leading clubs, especially given their current roster of world-class stars capable of making a difference at any moment.
Al-Ittihad fans are counting on their formidable attacking force, spearheaded by French captain Karim Benzema, his compatriots Moussa Diaby and N'Golo Kanté, as well as Serbian goalkeeper Rajković, Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, and Brazilian Fabinho. This blend of international experience and local talent, such as Muhannad Al-Shanqiti and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, makes Al-Ittihad strong contenders to secure the three points, despite the challenging terrain of Abha.
Damac: A challenge against absences and an escape from the bottom
In contrast, Damac finds itself in a precarious position, sitting in 14th place with only 9 points, accumulated from a single win and six draws, against six defeats. The team hopes to capitalize on home advantage and the support of its fans to secure a positive result and regain its footing after recent losses to Al-Hilal and Al-Khaleej.
Damac's coaching staff faces an additional challenge in the absence of the solid Algerian defender Abdelkader Bedrane due to suspension, which puts a greater burden on the rest of the professional players such as the Brazilian goalkeeper Kewin Silva, the Guinean Morlaye Sylla, the Argentinian Valentin Vada, and the Moroccan Jamal Harkas, to try to stop the expected Al-Ittihad offensive surge.
