Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens on Saturday evening as Al-Ittihad hosts Al-Taawoun at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah in a highly anticipated match in the 13th round of the Saudi Professional League. This game carries particular significance given the two teams' positions in the standings and their contrasting ambitions in this exceptional season.
A struggle for points and top positions
Al-Ittihad, a former champion and one of the giants of Saudi football, enters this match in sixth place with 20 points. The "Dean" (as Al-Ittihad is known) aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to continue their recent resurgence. The team has managed to regain its footing after a series of setbacks, achieving three consecutive victories against Al-Riyadh, Al-Shabab, and Neom. Al-Ittihad understands that winning this match is the only way to move closer to the top four and close the gap with the leading teams.
In contrast, Al-Taawoun, nicknamed "The Sugar of Qassim," is enjoying one of its best seasons, currently sitting in third place with 28 points. The team is displaying high-level technical skills that have made it a formidable force in the domestic league, having avoided defeat in ten consecutive matches and dropping only two points during that time. This reflects the team's defensive solidity and offensive efficiency this season.
Head-to-head history: Al-Ittihad's dominance and fierce competition
Looking at the statistics and history, the two teams have met 30 times in the Saudi Professional League. Al-Ittihad holds the advantage, having won 15 matches, while Al-Taawoun has won 7, and 8 matches ended in a draw. In terms of goals, Al-Ittihad's attack has scored 58 goals against Al-Taawoun, while their defense has conceded 46, indicating that matches between the two teams are always high-scoring and exciting.
Significant absences and a squad of stars
On the technical front, Al-Ittihad is suffering from significant absences, namely their Algerian professional Houssem Aouar due to injury, and Malian Mamadou Doumbia, who is with his national team. Nevertheless, Al-Ittihad fans are counting on their squad of international stars, led by Frenchman Karim Benzema, his compatriots Moussa Diaby and N'Golo Kanté, in addition to Serbian goalkeeper Rajković, Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, and Brazilian Fabinho, alongside outstanding local players such as Muhannad Al-Shanqiti and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi.
The formidable visiting team, Al-Taawoun, will be without their Gambian star Musa Barrow and Frenchman Romain Faivre due to injury. Despite this, the team possesses potent weapons capable of making a difference, such as Brazilians Gerotto and Maëlson, Dutch midfield maestro Achraf Al-Mahdioui, Colombian Roger Martínez, and Frenchman Angelo Fulgini, in addition to local stars Mohammed Al-Kwikbi and Waleed Al-Ahmad.
This match is not just about three points, but a real test of Al-Ittihad’s ability to return to competition, and a confirmation of Al-Taawon’s right to be among the elite, which promises a hot football night in Jeddah.
