Jeddah Derby Shake-Up: Nasri's Call-Up Stuns Conceicao as Jaissle Covers the Absences

Lineups and Stakes

Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao and German manager Matthias Jaissle have unveiled the lineups for the Jeddah Derby between Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, set for Saturday evening as the eighth-round fixture of the Saudi Pro League. The game will be staged at the Enmaa Stadium, with both sides chasing three points to close in on the summit.

Al Ahli sit sixth with 13 points, while Al Ittihad sit eighth with 11 points heading into the clash.

Lineups and Key Details

Al Ittihad: goalkeeper Bedrik Rajkovic; defense Muhannad Al-Shenqi, Hasma Kadsh, Danilo Pereira, Mario Mitai; midfield N’Golo Kanté, Awad Al-Nasheri, Houssam Awar; attack Rogier Fernandes, Mousa Diaby, Karim Benzema. On the bench: Hamid Al-Shenqiti, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed Al-Jaleedan, Mohammed Bernawi, Hamid Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Abdulaziz Al-Beshi, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Saleh Al-Shehri.

Al Ahli: goalkeeper Edward Mendy; defense Ali Majrshi, Mirih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, Mohammed Bakr; midfield Valentin Atanjana, Frank Kesi, Enzo Milo; attack Mathias Gonzalez, Riyad Mahrez, Firas Al-Briikan. On the bench: Abdulrahman Al-Saibi, Abdullah Abdu, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Eid Al-Malood, Fahd Al-Rashidi, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Yazan Madani, Abdulilah Al-Khreebi, Ayman Flata.

Injuries force both sides to adjust, with Al Ahli missing Englishman Ivan Tony and Brazilian Wenderson Galeno as part of the squad disruption before kickoff.

Conceicao’s preparations and Jaissle’s rotation are designed to balance domestic form with continental ambitions, as the two teams eye a positive result to lift them in the standings.

Crucial Derby Timing and Referee Details

Delight and tension mix as the two giants of Jeddah prepare for a clash described as a turning point in the early season. The derby, one of the region’s oldest, carries a rich history dating back over seven decades and serves as a barometer for both teams’ momentum during the current campaign.

The Saudi football federation has appointed Polish referee Szymon Marciniak to oversee the match, supported by Tomasz Listkiewicz as first assistant and Akardius Foetsek as second assistant. VAR duties will be handled by Tomasz Kwiatkowski, with Yasser Al Sultan as an assistant and the fourth official being Ali Al Qahtani. Marciniak has refereed at the highest levels, including the 2022 World Cup final, and his presence adds a layer of prestige and scrutiny to a fixture that always delivers drama.

This will be Marciniak’s 34th Saudi Pro League appointment and his 39th in Saudi football overall, a statistic that reflects both experience and familiarity with marquee matches in the country.

For enthusiasts of the spectacle, the clash also tests how lessons from recent fixtures translate when a derby is played under the pressure of national pride and league standings.

What This Derby Means for the Season

The match is more than three points; it is a statement about who can sustain momentum in a tight title race and how the tactical plans of Conceicao and Jaissle translate into results against a rival with equally lofty ambitions.

Historically, the derby shapes the rest of the campaign, influencing confidence, player selections, and the psychological edge moving forward into the mid-season schedule.

Two heavyweight clubs, two coaches with different philosophies, and a group of players tasked with delivering under pressure—this is Saudi football at its most combustible, and the Enmaa Stadium is set to witness a memorable chapter in the saga of the Jeddah Derby.

Punchline time: If this match had subtitles, it would read: “Drama, drama, and more drama—with a dash of tactical jargon.” If you blink, you might miss a key moment—so keep your snacks handy and your reaction memes ready.”