Cup Clash Dilemmas: Will Hassan Kadsh Make the King’s Cup Derby?

Saudi outlets on Sunday outlined Hassan Kadsh's availability for the King Cup last-16 clash with Al-Nassr, as the defender's fitness becomes the central talking point ahead of the showdown.

The heavyweight Saudi duel is scheduled for Tuesday evening at the First Park in Riyadh, one of the round's most anticipated ties, with both clubs arriving in contrasting form as they gear up for a classic clash.

Al-Nassr head into the fixture buoyed by a 2-0 win over Al-Hazm in the Roshen Saudi Pro League, while Al-Ittihad seek to regain balance after a 2-0 defeat to Al-Hilal, leaving them on 10 points in seventh place.

Diminished chances to participate

According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Kadsh (33) remains under an intensive rehabilitation program under the club doctor, and his participation in the looming match against the league leaders is considered unlikely, despite his efforts to rejoin the group training sessions.

The international defender has been trying to accelerate his return, but his status remains uncertain as he battles back from the recent setback.

Injury disrupts Al-Ittihad's plans

Kadsh previously sustained a back-muscle injury while featuring for the Saudi national team against Haiti in the Gold Cup in San Diego in mid-June, and since then has endured recurrent muscle pains that have kept him sidelined for most of this season.

The coaching staff, led by the Portuguese Sergio Conceição, now faces another blow after Kadsh suffered a renewed issue during Al-Ittihad's 1-1 draw with Al-Fayha on October 17, a first start in nearly four months.

Kadsh has missed the pre-season camp due to the same injury, and also did not participate in the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong, in addition to being absent for the opening rounds of the league and the start of the AFC Champions League.

Since arriving at Al-Ittihad, Kadsh has logged 72 appearances, scoring 3 goals and making 2 assists across 5,730 minutes on the pitch.

Previously, he played for Al-Ettifaq in 84 matches with 1 goal and 6 assists; he also had a similar run with Al-Taawoun (roughly the same number of games with 5 goals), and spent time at Al-Hilal where he recorded 3 assists in 31 appearances without scoring.

Intense preparations in Jeddah

Meanwhile, Conceição has stepped up serious preparations for the Al-Ittihad–Al-Nassr clash. On Saturday, recovery sessions were held for players who featured against Al-Hilal, while the remaining squad worked on technical and tactical drills before concluding with a half-field scrimmage involving most available players.

The squad is awaiting a Sunday evening verdict on the readiness of the young Portuguese forward Roger Fernandes, who is nearing the end of his rehabilitation after a thigh muscle injury and could be used as an attacking alternative against Al-Nassr.

The upcoming fixture is seen as a stern test for Conceição, particularly in defense with Kadsh’s absence and several defenders not at peak fitness, necessitating a compact rearguard and disciplined structure.

Cup-flavored Clasico

The King Cup adds extra heat to a fixture already loaded with history between two of Saudi football’s giants. Al-Nassr reached this round after a 4-0 thrashing of Jeddah, while Al-Ittihad progressed with a narrow 1-0 win over Al-Wehda via a penalty from Saleh Al-Shehri.

Al-Ittihad, the defending champions after beating Al-Qadisiyah 3-1 in the last final, hold six titles in total, while Al-Hilal leads with nine, followed by Al-Ahli (eight) and Al-Nassr (five). As Ronaldo and Joao Felix showcase their talent under Jorge Jesus, Al-Ittihad must marshal a defensively resilient performance in Kadsh’s potential absence.

Awaiting the draw

The King Cup last-16 concludes on Tuesday, with the draw for the quarterfinals scheduled for 3:00 PM on Wednesday in the studio of the “Eight” network, as announced by the competition’s official account on X.

Fixtures for the round span Monday and Tuesday, featuring Al-Khaleej vs Al-Tai, Al-Fayha vs Al-Riyadh, Al-Kholoud vs Al-Najma, Al-Batin vs Al-Ahli, Al-Qadsiah vs Al-Hazm, Al-Shabab vs Al-Zulfi, and Al-Nassr vs Al-Ittihad in the late slot at the First Park in Riyadh.

Whether Kadsh can join the party remains one of the defining subplots of this King Cup tie, with the club hoping to keep their Cup-defense alive while the veteran defender mends a stubborn muscle issue.

Punchline 1: If Kadsh plays, the attackers better bring a map—he’s the kind of defender who can find a way to dodge pressure and still end up with a clean sheet, like a GPS that somehow forgets roads exist but somehow still leads you home.

Punchline 2: If he doesn’t, the match might still be entertaining enough to solve the case of the missing Kadsh—spoiler alert: the ball will still end up in the back of the net, just perhaps a little less dramatically.