Al-Ittihad's 1-0 loss to Al-Ettifaq: Fan anger and a drop in the Roshan League standings
On a night of disappointment for Al-Ittihad fans, the reigning Saudi Professional League champions continued their disappointing run of form, suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Al-Ettifaq. The match, held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah (The Shining Jewel), was part of the 16th round of the Saudi Professional League and dealt a significant blow to the team's ambitions of competing for a top spot this season.
Match details and team standings
The match saw both teams exchange attacks, but the home side lacked the necessary attacking edge. Al-Ettifaq managed to snatch a valuable winning goal in the 54th minute thanks to a skillful touch from their talented player, Khaled Al-Ghannam, who exploited defensive gaps in Al-Ittihad's ranks. With this disappointing result, Al-Ittihad's points tally remains at 27, dropping them to sixth place – a position unbecoming of the club's history and its status as the previous season's champion. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq's points total rose to 25, propelling them to seventh place and narrowing the gap with Al-Ittihad, thus intensifying the competition in the mid-table.
The title holder's crisis: historical context and alarming decline
This loss cannot be viewed as a mere passing event; rather, it is another link in a chain of declines that Al-Ittihad has been experiencing this season. After winning the exceptional league title last season and delivering performances that captivated the Asian continent, the club now finds itself suffering from a clear inconsistency in results and a lack of a defined playing style on the field. This stark contrast between the title-winning season and the current one raises serious questions about the team's technical and physical preparations, and its ability to maintain its gains in light of the fierce competition in the Saudi league, which has become a focus of global attention.
Public anger and demands for administrative intervention
This loss sparked a wave of anger in the stands and across social media, with Al-Ittihad fans directing their fury at the club's management. The fans believe the administration is standing idly by, failing to address the team's urgent need for quality signings during the transfer window, especially given the injuries and declining form of some key players. They are demanding immediate action to salvage the situation, arguing that the administration's silence and failure to secure significant acquisitions are widening the gap between Al-Ittihad and its direct rivals, such as Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
Impact of the result on the local sports scene
This match is of particular importance given the stature of both teams in Saudi Arabian football. A loss for Al-Ittihad would mean a further step away from qualifying for the AFC Champions League, potentially leading to negative economic and marketing repercussions for the club in the near future. Conversely, a victory for Al-Ettifaq would intensify the competition in the league and demonstrate that mid-table clubs are now capable of challenging the established giants, thus raising the overall technical and competitive value of the Saudi Professional League (SPL), which is experiencing unprecedented growth thanks to significant government support aimed at elevating it to the ranks of the world's top leagues.
