Al-Ittihad's coaching staff suffered a major blow with the confirmed absence of their star Serbian goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic, from the upcoming match against Al-Qadisiyah in the 17th round of the Saudi Professional League. This news puts the Jeddah-based team in a difficult position ahead of the game, which will be held at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, considered one of the toughest venues for visiting teams.
The confirmation of Rajkovic's absence came after he received a straight red card during his team's ongoing match against Al-Ettifaq at Al-Inma Stadium. The referee showed the Serbian goalkeeper the card, automatically suspending him for the next league match, a significant blow to Al-Ittihad's defense, which relies heavily on the guidance and saves of its starting goalkeeper.
Returning to the details of the match that led to this suspension, the current game shows Al-Ettifaq leading 1-0, with the goal scored by the talented Khalid Al-Ghannam. The goal came from a perfectly executed and brilliant shot that found the back of Rajkovic's net before he was sent off, further complicating Al-Ittihad's task of getting back into the game and compounding the team's woes, as they will be without their goalkeeper for the next round.
Bridzic Rajkovic is considered one of the cornerstones of Al-Ittihad's squad this season, having delivered outstanding performances since joining the team, contributing to numerous clean sheets in crucial matches. The Al-Ittihad coaching staff relies heavily on him as a source of security and confidence for his fellow defenders, both in domestic and continental competitions, making his absence a real challenge for the coach in the upcoming match.
The upcoming match against Al-Qadisiyah is of paramount importance to Al-Ittihad, given the fierce competition in the Roshan League this season. Al-Qadisiyah, bolstered by strong signings and an ambitious management, has been delivering outstanding performances, making them a formidable opponent, especially when playing at home in the Eastern Province. Therefore, the absence of a goalkeeper of Rajkovic's caliber could disrupt Al-Ittihad's tactical plans and force the coach to make necessary changes to the starting lineup to ensure goal security.
In the overall competition, Al-Ittihad aims to continue accumulating points to remain in contention for the title or a spot in Asian championships. Any slip-up against Al-Qadisiyah could cost the team a drop in the standings. The backup goalkeeper is expected to start in the upcoming match, and all eyes will be on him to fill the significant void left by the Serbian international goalkeeper.
