Locked in a fierce two-horse title race, Al Ittihad welcome Al Shabab to King Abdullah Sports City this Wednesday for Round 16 of Saudi Pro League, determined to keep pace at the top.
The hosts are level on 40 points with league leaders Al Hilal, separated only by goal difference, while sitting nine points clear of third-placed Al Quadisiya.
Match preview
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After failing to reach the lofty heights of their 2022–23 title-winning season, finishing fifth last term, Al Ittihad are back in the mix once again thanks to the revitalising influence of head coach Laurent Blanc.
Blanc was appointed in July following the dismissal of Marcelo Gallardo after that underwhelming campaign, and the French manager has led them through an incredible run in 2024-25.
In terms of setbacks this season, the People's Club would not have many to recount, having failed to win in regulation time in just three of their 18 matches across all competitions, including a 2-2 draw against Al-Hilal in the King Cup, where they ultimately triumphed in the penalty shootout.
The other two came in the league – a 3-1 loss against the Blue Wave in September and a 1-1 draw with Al Fayha in their penultimate outing, with that stalemate causing them to surrender top spot to the reigning champions.
Al Ittihad, however, responded with an emphatic 4-1 victory against Al Raed at the Sports City, earning their 13th win in 15 top-flight matches.
The hosts have been flawless at home this season, winning all 10 of their games across all competitions, including each of their eight in the Pro League, where they boast the best such record.
Al Ittihad's impressive form stems from their excellence at both ends of the pitch, with their 37 goals scored in the top flight putting them as the second-best offensive side, while they have conceded just 11, the joint-fewest.
Meanwhile, Al Shabab enter this encounter on the back of a 2-1 come-from-behind derby triumph over Al Riyadh, leaving them sixth with 26 points, five off the Champions League qualification spots.
That win also marked the club's second victory in three games under new head coach Fatih Terim, who was appointed on December 27 after former boss Vitor Pereira secured a move to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The only blip in that run came with a 3-2 defeat away to Al Ahli, which followed a 2-1 victory over Al Fayha at home in the King Cup, where they booked their place in the semi-final.
Searching for his first away win in charge, Terim would seek to draw encouragement from his team's recent successes against the hosts, having won both legs in the previous season by 1-0 and 3-1 scorelines, respectively.
Al Shabab have conceded the joint-fewest away goals (5), and while they would hope this proves beneficial on Wednesday, their defence faces a tough test against Al Ittihad's formidable attack, which has scored the second-most on home turf (25).
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Team News
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The hosts have several players listed on their injury report, including Ahmed Mohammed Sharahili (cruciate ligament), Moussa Diaby (foot) and Saleh Al Shehri (muscle).
Captain Karim Benzema, who scored his 11th goal of the season last time out, sits as the joint-second top scorer, just one behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, and will aim to strengthen his bid for the league's golden boot when he leads the line once again on Wednesday.
As for the visitors, Fahad Al Muwallad (chest), Musab Al Juwayr (hamstring) and Yannick Carrasco (muscle) are all doubtful for Wednesday, while Seung-Gyu Kim is ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
Abderrazak Hamdallah, the third-highest goal scorer in the league's history with 136, is 19 shy of matching Nasser Al Shamrani's record and is expected to start.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf will also look to build on his 82 clean sheets as he closes in on Mohammad Al Deayea's all-time 86.
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Al Shanqeeti, Pereira, Kadesh, Mitaj; Kante, Fabinho; Al-Oboud, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema
Al Shabab possible starting lineup:
Al-Mayouf; Al-Thanii, Al-Sharari, Hoedt, Renan; Bonaventura, Aljuwayri, Guanca, Podence, Camara, Hamdallah
We say: Al Ittihad 3-1 Al Shabab
The hosts enter this encounter in red-hot form, unbeaten in their last 15 games across all competitions, with 10 league wins.
Although Al Ittihad have struggled against the visitors in recent meetings, losing the last two, their remarkable form should override this, with a flawless home record further strengthening their advantage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
