Al-Ittihad Vs Al-Khaleej

On Friday, two teams with starkly contrasting results in their recent King’s Cup matches are set to clash as Al Ittihad hosts Al Khaleej at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in the fifth gameweek of the Saudi Pro League. Al Ittihad, buoyed by a midweek victory, will look to carry their momentum into the league, while Al Khaleej, reeling from their King's Cup elimination, will be eager to break their winless run. The Saihat-based team is particularly motivated to end a dismal streak against Al Ittihad, having failed to claim a victory in their last four meetings with the Jeddah giants.

Al Ittihad, one of the most successful clubs in Saudi football, comes into this match on the back of a much-needed win in the King’s Cup. On Tuesday, Laurent Blanc's side dismantled Al Ain 3-0 in the round of 32, putting on an impressive display at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. The victory was highlighted by a brilliant performance from Saudi international Saleh Al-Shehri, who netted a brace, with goals on either side of an own goal by Al Ain’s Ziyad Al Refaei in the 29th minute. Al Ittihad’s dominant performance was a welcome sight after a disappointing league defeat to reigning champions Al Hilal, which had ended their perfect start to the new Saudi Pro League campaign.

Just three days before their King’s Cup triumph, Al Ittihad fell 3-1 to Al Hilal at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, a loss that halted their three-game winning streak to open the season. Al Ittihad had previously enjoyed a flawless start, winning their first three league matches against Al Kholood, Al Taawoun, and Al Wehda, scoring 10 goals while conceding just two. However, their defeat to Al Hilal, a match that brought the league’s top contenders head-to-head, exposed some of the vulnerabilities in Blanc’s squad, particularly in defense. Despite that, the team's ability to bounce back so emphatically in the King's Cup indicates a resilience that they will look to carry into their return to league action.

Heading into this encounter, Al Ittihad is heavily favored to continue their dominant run over Al Khaleej, whom they have beaten in eight of their last 11 meetings, with the remaining three ending in draws. Al Khaleej’s last victory over Al Ittihad dates all the way back to October 2014, and since then, the Saihat-based side has struggled in these matchups. Al Ittihad’s impressive attacking form, spearheaded by high-profile players like Karim Benzema and Saleh Al-Shehri, alongside a solid defensive record, will make them a formidable challenge for Al Khaleej to overcome.

In stark contrast to Al Ittihad’s midweek success, Al Khaleej suffered a devastating 5-2 defeat after extra time against second-tier Al Tai in their King’s Cup round-of-32 match on Monday. Despite a valiant comeback that saw Ibrahim Al-Salem and Kostas Fortounis score to erase a two-goal deficit and force extra time, Al Khaleej could not complete the turnaround. Al Tai took control in extra time, with Ibrahima Tandia, Abdulaziz Al-Faraj, and Leandre Tawamba finding the net to send Al Khaleej crashing out of the tournament. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Al Khaleej, who had hoped to use the King’s Cup as a platform to build some much-needed momentum following a poor start to their league campaign.

Al Khaleej’s form in the Pro League has been far from inspiring. After five gameweeks, they sit 13th in the table with just four points from a possible 15, a precarious position that puts them only five points behind their opponents Al Ittihad, who occupy second place. Al Khaleej’s only league victory this season came in their opener against Damac on August 23, a narrow 1-0 win that briefly raised hopes of a successful campaign. However, their optimism was quickly dashed as they suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Al Shabab and Al Taawoun. Their inability to capitalize on their early-season form continued in their most recent league outing, a goalless draw with Al Fayha on September 20.

Al Khaleej's issues extend beyond their poor form; their struggles away from home have become a significant concern. Since mid-April, the Saihat side has failed to win six of their last seven competitive matches on the road, losing four and drawing two. Their lack of confidence when playing away has been a major stumbling block, and this record does not bode well for their chances against a dominant Al Ittihad side in Jeddah.

For Al Ittihad, the spotlight will once again be on Saleh Al-Shehri, whose form has been nothing short of spectacular in recent matches. The 30-year-old forward’s brace in the King’s Cup showed his clinical finishing ability, and he will be key to breaking down Al Khaleej’s defense. Al-Shehri’s partnership with Karim Benzema, who joined the club in a high-profile move from Real Madrid, has shown promise in the early stages of the season. Benzema, though yet to fully hit his stride, remains a constant threat with his intelligent movement and vision, and his experience could prove decisive in creating opportunities for his teammates.

In midfield, Al Ittihad will rely on the creativity and composure of Houssem Aouar, who has settled in well since his summer transfer. Aouar’s ability to dictate the tempo of the game and unlock defenses with his passing will be crucial against an Al Khaleej side that is likely to sit deep and look to frustrate the home team.

For Al Khaleej, Kostas Fortounis remains their standout player. The Greek midfielder was instrumental in their King’s Cup comeback attempt, and his experience at the highest levels of European football provides a crucial influence on the team. Fortounis’s vision and ability to score from set-pieces will be vital if Al Khaleej are to cause an upset. Additionally, the form of Ibrahim Al-Salem, who also found the net against Al Tai, will be important as the Saihat side looks for a more clinical edge in front of goal.

Al Ittihad under Laurent Blanc has been characterized by a fluid and attacking style of play, with an emphasis on controlling possession and creating chances through intricate passing in the final third. Blanc’s tactical flexibility has allowed his side to adapt to different opponents, and against Al Khaleej, it is expected that Al Ittihad will dominate possession and look to wear down their opposition through sustained pressure. The attacking trio of Al-Shehri, Benzema, and Jota, supported by Aouar in midfield, will be tasked with unlocking what is expected to be a deep-lying Al Khaleej defense.

Al Khaleej, on the other hand, is likely to adopt a more conservative approach. Manager Georgios Donis has favored a compact defensive setup, particularly against stronger opposition. Al Khaleej will aim to frustrate Al Ittihad by closing down spaces and looking to hit on the counter-attack. Fortounis will be the key orchestrator in these transitions, while the pace of their forwards could provide an outlet in breaking quickly against an Al Ittihad defense that has, at times, looked vulnerable to counter-attacks, particularly in their defeat to Al Hilal.

For Al Ittihad, this match represents an opportunity to maintain pressure on Al Hilal and the other title contenders at the top of the Saudi Pro League. With their sights firmly set on reclaiming the title, a win against Al Khaleej would help Al Ittihad keep pace in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive season. The pressure will be on Laurent Blanc’s side to not only win but to do so convincingly, as they look to continue building momentum.

For Al Khaleej, the match is less about the result and more about the performance. With just one win from their opening five matches, the Saihat side desperately needs to find some consistency to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle. A draw would be seen as a positive result, but the priority for Donis’s men will be to deliver a strong defensive performance and show more cohesion going forward. A positive showing against one of the league’s powerhouses could serve as a springboard for the rest of their campaign.

Al Ittihad, buoyed by their midweek King’s Cup victory and playing at home, will enter this match as overwhelming favorites. Al Khaleej, while capable of springing a surprise, have not shown the form necessary to suggest they can pull off a shock result. Expect Al Ittihad to dominate possession and eventually break down a stubborn Al Khaleej defense, with Saleh Al-Shehri and Karim Benzema likely to play starring roles.

Prediction: Al Ittihad 3-0 Al Khaleej