Al Ittihad can maintain their narrow lead atop the Saudi Pro League table when they head to King Abdul Aziz Stadium to face Al Wahda on Saturday.
The club from Mecca are in relegation danger, currently two points below that line following a 4-2 defeat versus Al-Orobah, while Nadi Al-Watan sit two points clear of Al-Nassr at the top of the table thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al-Taawoun.
Match preview
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Throughout this domestic season, poor defending has constantly held Al Wahda back, with this side conceding more than anyone in the league after 19 matchdays (46).
That came back to bite them last Friday as they conceded multiple times for the fourth time in their last five league contests.
Daniel Carnero's side have won just one of their last eight matches in this competition, conceding at least once in each of those encounters.
They have only collected one point in their previous three league affairs at home, squandering two one-goal advantages in their last match played at King Abdul Aziz Stadium in a 2-2 draw with Al-Ettifaq.
On the plus side, Fursan Mecca have points in three of their previous four matches when netting the opening goal, two of which ended in a victory for them.
After 19 matches this season, they have accumulated 13 points, six fewer than they had at this stage of the previous campaign.
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It has been a solid start to February for Al Ittihad, who have been able to maintain their lead at the top thanks to a pair of one-goal triumphs.
This season, Laurent Blanc's men have often squeaked through by the thinnest of margins, winning nine matches in this competition by a single goal.
What they have yet to do in 2025 is win consecutive league matches away from home, though they have lost just one of their previous seven Saudi top-flight fixtures as the visitors.
Al Ittihad have claimed 49 points in 19 league fixtures, 18 more than they had at this exact stage of the previous Saudi Pro League season.
On the current campaign in the Saudi top-flight, they boast a 100% record when netting multiple times in 90 minutes, having done so on 13 occasions thus far.
The club from Jeddah have won their last nine matches versus Al Wahda across all competitions, winning their previous away contest against them 3-0 in August 2023.
Team News
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In their defeat last Friday, Al Wahda were without Ignacio de Arruabarrena due to a meniscus tear, while Nawaf Al-Azizi was sidelined because of a tear in his cruciate ligament.
Their only two goals against Al-Orobah came courtesy of Saad Bguir, the first two for the Turkish midfielder in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League campaign.
As for Al Ittihad, they were missing Abdulaziz Al-Bishi last week with a hamstring strain, while a cruciate ligament injury kept Ahmed Sharahili on the sidelines.
A 21st-minute goal from Abdulrahman Al-Aboud put them in front in their previous match, though it was Karim Benzema who netted the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time, giving him 14 for the season, two fewer than his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for first.
Al Wahda possible starting lineup:
Al-Owaishir; Al-Muwallad, Cretu, Al-Hafith, Al-Salem; Al-Hejji, Bacuna; Amyn, Bguir, Goodwin; Ighalo
Al Ittihad possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Al Mousa, Pereira, Kadesh; Al-Nashiri, Kante, Fabinho, Al-Aboud; Diaby, Bergwijn; Benzema
We say: Al Wahda 0-3 Al Ittihad
Al Ittihad have plenty of talent all over the field, while Benzema is in sparkling form, and we have a hard time believing the home team will be able to contain the league leaders for 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
