Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Fayha match in the Roshan League: Date and details of the encounter
Al-Ittihad's first football team is riding high on confidence after their resounding success in securing a place in the AFC Champions League Round of 16, following a historic 7-0 victory over Qatari side Al-Gharafa. Riding this wave of fighting spirit, the "Dean" faces a potentially tricky domestic test when they host Al-Fayha at 8:30 PM this Friday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium ("The Shining Jewel") in Jeddah, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League.
This match is of paramount importance to Al-Ittihad, as the team enters the game aiming to capitalize on their continental success to improve their domestic league standing. The Tigers are eager to return to winning ways in the Pro League and appease their fans domestically, as they currently sit seventh in the table with 34 points. Al-Ittihad has accumulated this tally through an inconsistent run of 10 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses, scoring 34 goals while conceding 25 – a record the coaching staff is keen to improve to secure a climb up the standings.
On the other hand, Al-Fayha, the visiting team, does not appear to be an easy opponent. They enter the match with high hopes of continuing their recent positive results, especially after their morale-boosting victory over Al-Najma in the last round. Al-Fayha currently sits in twelfth place with 23 points, accumulated from 6 wins and 5 draws, while suffering 9 defeats. The team is struggling defensively, having conceded 33 goals while scoring only 22, making Al-Fayha's coach keen to tighten up the back line against Al-Ittihad's formidable attack.
Looking at the statistics and history, Al-Ittihad holds a significant advantage in head-to-head encounters, having faced Al-Fayha 15 times previously in the Saudi Professional League. Al-Ittihad dominated these matches, winning eight, while Al-Fayha managed to secure three points in four, and three matches ended in a draw. Al-Ittihad's attacking prowess is evident in their record, having scored 29 goals against Al-Fayha, while Al-Fayha's attack has only managed 14.
The match has dimensions that go beyond just the three points; it represents a pivotal point for Al-Ittihad to prove that the Asian “awakening” is not just a temporary surge, but the beginning of a real return to compete for the qualifying positions for continental championships next season, while Al-Fayha is fighting to move away from the danger zones in the middle of the standings and secure its stay in the safe zones early on.
