Green Nights in Jeddah: Mahrez Clinches the Derby for Al-Ahli
8 November 2025
German coach Matias Jaissle celebrated Al-Ahli Jeddah’s 1-0 derby victory over rivals Al-Ittihad at the Al-Inma Stadium on Saturday night. The evening atmosphere blended sea breeze and anticipation as the teams clashed for city supremacy.
Riyad Mahrez gave the decisive goal, sealing the win as the Roshn Saudi Pro League’s eighth round unfolded in front of a packed crowd that roared with every moment of tension.
The victory moved Al-Ahli up to 15 points, placing them fifth, while Al-Ittihad stayed eighth on 11, leaving the standings tight and the rivalry as heated as ever.
Jaissle spoke after the match, thanking his players for sacrifices that unlocked the win against the league rivals.
He lauded both starters and substitutes for their commitment in training, insisting the victory was a team effort that will keep Jeddah green.
Football, he added, is played in many ways; it isn’t chess, but it’s about using every tool at hand.
The manager also praised the squad as a whole, noting a red-card incident in a recent match and vowing more wins against every foe.
He refused to discuss tactical changes, saying it’s not sensible to reveal strategies in a press conference and that foreign-player limits complicate lists.
Yaissle: Jeddah Stays Green
A notable absence tonight was English forward Evan Tony from the Al-Ahli squad, a first since his arrival in 2024.
Saudi media noted that Tony had only missed matches due to illness or disciplinary reasons when needed, but not as a regular absence.
For the derby, the coach left several foreign players out of the squad, citing technical considerations and the league’s foreign-player rules.
Centennial Derby and Clarity of Records
Jaissle’s side continued their impressive run against their city rivals, taking a 1-0 result as part of five meetings against Al-Ittihad with three wins, one draw and one loss.
Saudi press later noted that this win keeps Jaissle undefeated in this derby, maintaining a strong record over the archrival.
It also extended Al-Ahli’s 1-0 winning run in Saudi top-flight derbies to 14, widening the gap to Al-Ittihad’s 10 wins.
The match marked the 100th derby in the Saudi League, with historical notes tracing back to a 1938 friendly in Jeddah and the 1958 Cup final won by Al-Ittihad.
The long-running city clash has delivered memorable moments and a long-standing rivalry, this time capped by Riyad Mahrez’s decisive strike.
The derby’s centennial chapter adds to a narrative that has spanned decades, giving fans new chapters to debate and celebrate.
Mahrez’s winner will be remembered as a milestone, but there’s plenty more to come for a derby that never lacks drama.
History buffs soaked in every anecdote about the 1938 friendly.
With a century of clashes behind them, both clubs will look to build further in the league and in future editions of the fixture.
Riyad Mahrez’s winner will be remembered as a milestone, but there’s plenty more to come for a derby that never lacks drama.
Punchline: If football is chess, Jaissle just checked mate on the scoreboard.
Punchline: In Jeddah, even the grass stays green long after the match ends and the comments begin.
