Derby Dented: Saad Al-Mousa’s Injury Shapes the Jeddah Showdown

Injury to Saad Al-Mousa

Saad Al-Mousa of Al-Ittihad suffered a fracture in his right ankle and will miss the Jeddah derby against neighboring Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

This match next Saturday at Al-Enma Stadium is part of the eighth round as teams jostle for position in a tight table.

Benzema Derby Status

According to The Today newspaper, Karim Benzema is technically and physically ready to feature in the Roshen derby in Jeddah. The French veteran has endured a few pains but is fully prepared for the match.

He previously found the back of the net for the Union in a win over Sharjah in the Elite AFC Champions League, which was played at the Enmaa stadium.

Former Al-Ahli President: We don’t know defeat in the derby

Abdullah Btargi, the former president of Al-Ahli, described the derby as tough and warned that the Green’s latest form is on the rise, but he still trusts his players in big matches.

He urged focusing on the derby and ignoring wins or losses from earlier rounds in the pursuit of three points.

Disciplinary Actions

The Saudi Football Disciplinary and Ethics Committee handed out sanctions for Round Seven. Fabinho of Al-Ittihad was fined 10,000 riyals for a red card in the match against Gulf, for violent play. Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegalese defender of Al-Hilal, was also fined 10,000 for the red card against the youth team. Moussa Dembele of Al-Ettifaq was fined 10,000 for violent conduct in his team's match against Al-Hazm. Al-Ahli were fined 60,000 for fans throwing 12 water bottles onto the pitch during the match against Al-Riyadh.

First Derby under Coach Conceição

German coach Matias Jaissle has had a solid derby record against Al-Ittihad since joining Al-Ahli in 2023, winning two, drawing one, and losing one in four meetings, scoring four goals and conceding three.

In contrast, the upcoming derby will be the first for Portuguese manager Sergio Conceição, who replaced Laurent Blanc after weak results.

What It Means for the Title Race

With Saad Al-Mousa sidelined and Benzema ready to go, the derby takes on extra significance in a season where every point counts. A win could shift momentum, while a loss could tighten the pack at the top of the table.

As coaches weigh rotation and risk, fans can expect a tense battle that blends high-level football with the drama that only a Jeddah derby can provide.

Punchline 1: If this derby were a sniper, the only thing sharper than the commentary would be the players’ timing — and that’s saying something.

Punchline 2: Coaches say excuses are for press conferences; in football, the ball stops for nothing, except maybe a well-timed snack break.