Al-Ittihad's first football team faces a very difficult test and a true crossroads in its season when it visits its traditional rival, Al-Hilal, next Saturday in the highlight match of the round of the Saudi Professional League. This encounter comes at a very sensitive time for Al-Ittihad, which is experiencing a paradoxical situation between its current high level of performance and a crisis of fan support.
A winning streak clashes with the reality of absences
Despite the high morale of Al-Ittihad following their strong comeback and three consecutive victories in the Saudi Professional League and the AFC Champions League, and the impressive 13 goals scored in just three matches by their attacking lineup, the team has been hit with a painful reality: a host of absences that could destabilize their squad. Al-Ittihad will enter the derby match with a severe shortage of players, as eight players have been confirmed unavailable, leaving the coaching staff in a real dilemma of selecting the right lineup to face the league leaders and defending champions.
The list of absences... painful blows across all positions
The biggest blow to Al-Ittihad is the absence of French professional Moussa Diaby, one of their key attacking players, due to injury. Adding to their woes is the absence of Albanian full-back Mario Mitai, who had to travel to his country for an urgent family matter—attending his grandmother's funeral. The woes don't stop with the foreign professionals; they extend to the local players as well. Saleh Al-Shehri, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Saad Al-Mousa, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, and Ahmed Al-Julaidan are all continuing their rehabilitation programs, meaning they are not yet fully fit to return to the pitch at this crucial time.
To make matters worse, the solid defender Hassan Kadash recently joined the list of injured players, after he was injured in the last match against Al Sadd of Qatar in the AFC Champions League Elite matches, leaving a large gap in the team’s back line before facing the strongest attacking line in the league.
The importance of El Clásico and its impact on the competition
This derby holds immense importance, transcending mere three points; it's a historic clash between the two giants of Saudi football. The match comes at a crucial time for Al-Ittihad, who are striving to break Al-Hilal's dominance and close the points gap to seriously contend for the league title. The significant absences present Al-Ittihad with a major tactical and psychological challenge, as the substitutes will need to deliver a heroic performance to compensate for the depleted squad against a complete team like Al-Hilal, playing at home in front of their fans. Saudi and Arab football fans eagerly await this encounter to see if Al-Ittihad can withstand these difficult circumstances and maintain their chances in both domestic and continental competitions.
