Conceição Rewinds Al-Ittihad: Six Years Back as Duhail Dash Ends in 4-2 Defeat
24 November 2025
Memories of the Past
The heavy defeat at the hands of host Al-Duhail in Qatar dragged Al-Ittihad back into a cycle of negative results on the continental stage. The 4-2 loss in the fifth round of the AFC Champions League Elite left the team with a sense that history might be repeating itself for the wrong reasons.
Technical Struggles Despite Improvement
The setback was the third defeat in the competition this season and the first under Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição. The coach implemented a blend of disciplined organization and a more compact defensive shape, while trying to preserve the team’s attacking identity that had defined previous seasons. He worked to shrink spaces between lines with a mid block and occasional high press, helping the defense regain some solidity against quick transitions.
There were improvements in build-up from the back as center-backs were asked to play more vertical passes and midfielders created supporting angles, bringing a measure of calm to the possession phase. Offensively, Conceição leaned on the quality of foreign players to exploit gaps between depth and the flanks, with full-backs pushing higher to create overloads and widen the attacking channel.
Nevertheless, issues persisted: second-half fatigue, some players unable to sustain the high-press tempo, defensive errors on crosses and rapid transitions, and incomplete chemistry among the midfielders that slowed the game’s flow and depth in the final third.
In sum, Conceição added tactical elements and greater defensive order, but there is still substantial work to fix individual mistakes, raise physical readiness, and improve attacking productivity in big matches.
Hat-Trick Hero of Al-Duhail
The standout of the night was Adel Bolbine of Al-Duhail, who struck a remarkable hat-trick in the 5th, 33rd and 53rd minutes. Krzysztof Piątek added the fourth for the hosts in the 74th minute, while Al-Ittihad answered through Karim Benzema in the 76th and 83rd minutes.
After the four-goal cushion, Al-Ittihad did manage to narrow the gap, but the margin was enough for Duhail to seize the points and shift the dynamics in the West group standings.
The match also reinforced the narrative that this Al-Ittihad side still has work to do to reclaim consistency in Asia, despite some tactical gains and improved defensive shape under Conceição.
Final Standings and Reflections
Al-Ittihad dropped to seventh in the West group with six points, while Al-Duhail climbed to sixth with seven points. Bolbine’s performance further established him as a threat against Saudi clubs, while Benzema’s late brace offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors in a game that edged toward a difficult night.
Bolbine’s three goals were characterized by a long-range strike, a fine solo effort past a defender, and a composed finish after beating the goalkeeper. The Algerian’s display was a reminder that the Gulf rivalry can hinge on individual brilliance in moments of transition.
The night also added to the long-standing scoreboard of cross-border encounters between clubs in the region, illustrating how a single performance can tilt confidence and momentum in a group that rewards intensity and precision over longevity alone.
Punchline time: If football had a memory spell, Conceição just hit the rewind button and forgot to press play. Punchline two: when your hat-trick opponent is a winger named Bolbine, you know the defense finished its quattro form rather than a full piece of art.
