King's Cup Masterclass: Al-Ittihad Outfoxes Al-Nassr with a Barca-inspired Trap

Tactics and Lineups

Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição appears to have studied his team’s 2-0 defeat to Al Hilal and used those lessons to guide Al-Ittihad to a 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr in the King’s Cup, last-16 action at the Ittihad home venue. Conceição shifted to a fluid 4-3-3, with Predrag Raiković back in goal and a back four anchored by Danilo Pereira and Saad Al-Mousa, flanked by Ahmed Al-Jalidi on the right and Mario Metai on the left. In midfield, Hassan Aouar joined N’Golo Kanté and Fabinho in a compact trio. Up front, an attacking trio featuring Roger Fernandes, Musa Diaby, and Karim Benzema aimed to trouble Nassr’s rearguard.

Al-Nassr’s boss Jorge Jesus kept his familiar setup for much of the season, deploying Ronaldo as the central striker with Joao Felix as the creative foil. Kingsley Coman was on the right and Sadio Mané on the left, with a midfield engine that sought to control possession and feed the strikes at the top of the pitch.

Key Moments and Strategy

From the opening minutes, Ittihad pressed high and disrupted Nassr’s build-up—recalling the pace and intent that had troubled their opponents in prior meetings. The tactical battle resembled a chess match: Conceição’s side probed with swift combinations through the middle, while Nassr tried to exploit counter opportunities on the flanks and through patient ball circulation.

Defensively, Ittihad’s shape remained disciplined, with Raiković’s presence providing security behind a defensive four. The visitors sought to stretch play with Diaby as a wide option on the right and Benzema’s movements pulling the center of the defense, while Fernandes offered a focal point in attack that Nassr found hard to contain.

Turning Point and Aftermath

The turning point arrived late in the second half when Ahmed Al-Jalidi, Nassr’s right-back, was sent off, altering the balance of the game. In response, Jesus shifted Ronaldo to a more central striker role and brought on Marcelo Brozović to reinforce the midfield, while Nawaf Boshl and others adjusted to cover the gaps. Ittihad capitalized on the extra space, adding a second goal and sealing a 2-1 win that sent them into the quarterfinals and left Nassr to ponder what could have been. The match showcased how strategic tweaks and situational discipline can tilt a cup tie in a single, pivotal moment.

As the dust settled, the lesson was clear: in knockout football, preparation meets adaptability. Conceição’s Ittihad players showed a willingness to evolve on the fly, while Jesus’s lineup remained competitive but couldn’t close out the tie when the numbers swung. The King’s Cup already has a new talking point for coaches and fans alike.

Punchline time: If tactical genius had a sniper rifle, today’s game would be littered with perfectly aimed counter-attacks—and still somehow a coffee break would steal the show. Punchline two: In football, even the sharpest plan can be foiled by a red card, so bring extra ketchup for the cup, because the drama sticks to the ribs.