Derby Day Dilemma: Can Al-Ahli Stave Off Shabab Despite a Tight International Break?

Match Preview

German coach Matias Jaissle of Al-Ahli Jeddah raised concerns ahead of Friday's clash with Al-Shabab at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League.

In the pre-match press conference, he said the squad hasn't had full preparation time due to international duties, but he was excited by the return of international players to training.

He described the matches with Shabab as always competitive and full of intensity, with a special edge given the club's history—the team is ready to push for a win despite a tight schedule.

Jaissle added that having many internationals at Al-Ahli is a technical advantage, but it also disrupts camp time during international breaks; the positive is that they had time to recover and will focus on finishing chances.

He welcomed Roy Pedro to the technical staff, calling it a quality addition and expressing hope for a new era of collaboration.

Jaissle also congratulated Saudi fans after the national team qualified for the 2026 World Cup, saying it was a wonderful day for Saudi football.

Derby Insights

Spanish coach Immanuel Alguacil said Shabab benefited from the break by integrating late arrivals and focusing more on training.

He added that Shabab competes for all competitions and will aim to perform at their best in every game.

He acknowledged that the Al-Ahli match will be tough because of a quality opponent, but he likes to see competitive intensity in such games.

Injury Update

There are doubts about defender Roger Ibanez's availability for the derby; the club's medical staff have been working on a treatment plan to be ready.

A precise medical assessment is due within 48 hours to decide on his participation, with a final evaluation on Thursday.

Al-Ahli rely on center-back duo Merih Demiral and Ibanez; losing them would be a blow.

This season Ibanez has played 10 matches across all competitions, scoring once and receiving three yellow cards.

Since joining from Roma, Ibanez has 88 appearances, 11 goals, 5 assists; he helped the team win two Elite Asia Champions League titles and the Saudi Super Cup; he starred in the decisive final against Al-Nasr with the equalizer before the shootout.

A planned official “twinning” between Shabab and Al-Ahli aims to ease media tension and coordinate CSR programs and fan events, according to Al-Youm daily.

The two clubs are expected to announce the details before Friday's match at the Enmaa Stadium, in front of a large crowd as one of the league's fiercest fixtures.

Al-Ahli sit seventh with eight points and remain unbeaten, aiming to win and move up. Meanwhile, Shabab are twelfth with four points, hoping for a positive result to get back on track.

Punchline time: if timing is everything, Jaissle might need to borrow a clock from the international break—because the only thing getting elapsed is the waiting time before the whistle.
Punchline two: if Al-Ahli win, the calendar might file a complaint for stealing their weekend; notes say it’s a big derby, not a big snooze.