Conceicao bets on XI stability for Al-Ittihad vs Damac
13 January 2026
Conceicao bets on XI stability for Al-Ittihad vs Damac
Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao named Al-Ittihad's starting lineup to face Damac in the 15th round of the Saudi Pro League.
He kept the same starting XI for the fourth straight game to preserve harmony and continuity within the squad.
Up front, Karim Benzema remained alongside Moussa Diaby on the right and Steven Bergwijn on the left.
Here is the listed XI for Al-Ittihad: Predrag Rajkovic in goal; defense included Mohannad Al-Shenqiti, Danilo Pereira, Ahmed Shraihli, and Hassan Kadsh; midfield featured N'Golo Kanté, Fabinho, and Roger Fernandes; attackers were Bergwijn, Diaby, and Benzema. The bench list followed with several substitutes still in contention.
In Damac's lineup, Armando Evangelista named goalkeeper Kwien Silva; defense consisted of Hasan Rabee, Abdulrahman Al-Kheibri, Abdulrahman Al-Obaid, and Sonosi Housawi; midfield included Morlaye Sila, Riyad Sharahili, Abdullah Al-Qahthani, and Dari Al-Anazi; attackers were Valentin Fada and Hazaa Al-Ghamdi, with a host of substitutes available for changes.
The tactical focus centers on cohesion and continuity as both teams look to maximize their chances in a tightly fought Saudi Pro League clash.
Punchline 1: If continuity had a shirt, Conceicao would wear it every week and still look fresh for press conferences. Punchline 2: The only thing more settled than this XI is the defense of a clock—always on time, always in position, and occasionally a little cuckoo when the ball goes missing.
