Derby on the Edge: Conceição’s Fire Could Shape the Jeddah Showdown
7 November 2025
Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição is not defined by subtlety; his hallmark is an infectious enthusiasm that floods the bench, radiates in press conferences, and even lifts his players on the pitch.
That energy can be a strength or a trap when it tips into ill-judged impulse.
This is the scenario that worries Al-Ittihad fans as they prepare for the Jeddah derby with Al-Ahli at the Al-Inma Stadium, in the eighth round of the Saudi Pro League.
Conceição’s Passion as a Double-Edged Sword
In the last meeting against Al-Hilal, a 0-2 defeat at Al-Inma, Conceição’s side showed audacity: just three games into his tenure, he deployed a bold, forward-pressing approach.
He lined up four midfielders—Fabinho, Mamadou Doumbia, N’Golo Kanté, and Houssem Aouar—supporting a front line of Karim Benzema and Moussa Diaby, leveraging pace and link-up play.
The opposing coach, Simone Inzaghi, had crafted a plan to invite the attack and exploit counterattacks, a strategy that yielded openings for long stretches of the game.
Al-Hilal ultimately prevailed 2-0, helped largely by a couple of individual errors from Al-Ittihad players.
The opener came as an own goal by Mamadou Doumbia in the first half, and early in the second Hamid Al-Shenqiti mishandled a shot by Ruben Neves, allowing Marcus Leonardo to prod home the second.
These kinds of lapses have echoed in other fixtures too, including a King’s Cup quarterfinal against Al-Nassr where Ahmed Al-Jalidan was sent off after a rash challenge on Ayman Yahya, nearly costing his team the match.
Even in the latest league game versus Al-Khaleej, defense and build-up were leaky, contributing to multiple concessions and exposing gaps between lines.
Al-Ahli’s Trap
These mistakes are precisely the kind of openings Al-Ahli thrives on, thanks to their ability to press high and win the ball back in the opponents’ half, setting up quick breaks toward the goal.
Al-Ahli’s scouts will point to long balls that bypass clogged midfields as a potent weapon, with Riyad Mahrez and Enzo Millot among the threats that can hurt if the ball sits in vulnerable zones.
Without Fabinho in midfield, Conceição will have to carefully balance aggression with caution, otherwise the space behind the pressing line could be exploited by long diagonals and swift counter-attacks led by the visitors’ pace and creativity.
In short, Conceição must temper his hallmark enthusiasm with discipline, seeking his first league win after three matches while managing the risks of a derby against a dangerous Al-Ahli outfit.
No one doubts his energy — but even a sniper needs to aim, not just shoot from the hip.
Punchline time: If enthusiasm were a formation, Conceição would press with 4 attackers and defend with 0. Plot twist: the scoreboard still reads the same. Punchline two: in football, the louder the pep talk, the quieter the goal chorus—tonight, let’s hope the goals sing back too.
