Al Ittihad will resume their mission to win back the Saudi Pro League title this season when they take on Al Wahda at the King Abdullah Sports City on Sunday evening.
The hosts have a 100% record after the first two games of the season and are in fourth place in the league standings, while the visitors are eighth with four points over the same period.
Match preview
© Imago
Al Ittihad president Loay Mashabi has made his intentions to return to the summit of the Saudi Pro League clear this season, bringing in several big names both on and off the pitch during the offseason.
Marcelo Gallardo was one of the victims of the shake-up in personnel, with Mashabi dismissing the Argentine at the end of last season following a dispute with Karim Benzema and replacing him with the former Real Madrid captain's compatriot Laurent Blanc at the start of this term.
So far, the initial signs under the French manager have been very promising with the side currently one of only five, along with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al Qadsiah and Al Taawoun, to have won both league games this season.
Nadi Al-Sha'ab kicked off the league season with a 1-0 win over Al Kholood and followed up with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against the Wolves ahead of the international break, with former Roma attacker Houssem Aouar scoring the winner in both matches.
Next up for Blanc is Al Wahda, an opponent that his team have beaten in six consecutive encounters leading up to this one, and outscored 14-5 during their current win streak.
© Imago
Meanwhile, having now managed to navigate back-to-back seasons in the top flight, Al Wahda's main goal this term will be to open up some distance between themselves and the dotted line.
Like Al Ittihad, the Knights of Mecca underwent a change of leadership during the summer, with former Lokomotiv Moscow boss Josef Zinnbauer appointed to replace Greek tactician Georgios Donis back in July.
After two matches in 2024-25, things are looking promising for the German, as his side are still unbeaten, posting a 3-3 draw in their opening match at home to Al Riyadh and beating new boys Al Orubah 2-1 a week later.
However, Zinnbauer is now set to face his toughest assignment since arriving in the Middle East, and has to do so on the road, where his team managed only four victories across the entire of last season under his predecessor.
- W
- W
- D
- W
Team News
© Imago
Benzema and Aouar have scored the hosts' three league goals this season and will almost certainly continue to lead the line here, with former Aston Villa man Moussa Diaby likely to operate as the most advanced midfielder.
Al Ittihad made two big signings on deadline day, bringing in Steven Bergwijn and Danilo Pereira from Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain respectively and both players will be in line to make their debuts this weekend.
Al Wehda spent less than £1m on new acquisitions during the offseason, but they did manage to secure a free transfer for Murad Khadhari from Al Ahli, and the centre-forward has scored two-in-two from off the bench for his new employers.
Odion Ighalo opened his account for this term last week and will be the most likely to drop to the bench if Khadhari is given a start, while Australian international Craig Goodwin has also been impressive in the new campaign and will be looking to add to his brace from the season-opener in this one.
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Al Yami, Al-Shanqeetti, Al Mousa, Kadesh; Kante, Fabinho; Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn; Benzema
Al Wahda possible starting lineup:
De Arruabarrena; Mowalad, Al-Hafith, Yamiq, Makki; Hejji, Makahasi; Al-Azizi, Amyn, Goodwin; Ighalo
We say: Al Ittihad 2-1 Al Wahda
While Al Wahda have performed well over the first two weeks of the Saudi Pro League season, they are set to face an Al Ittihad side that now, on paper, could go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the world. We say the hosts will come away with the points in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
