Derby Swagger: Al Ahli Roars After Thrilling Clash with Al Ittihad

Derby Night Drama in Jeddah

Al Ahli did not settle for simply clinching the Jeddah derby against their arch-rivals Al Ittihad, as they triumphed 3-1 in a match that kept the title race buzzing. The clash, held yesterday evening in the 25th round of the Saudi Pro League, left the city breathless and the table alive with tension.

With the victory, the "Raqi" side temporarily led the standings with 62 points, one point ahead of Al Nassr and Al Hilal.

Shortly after the final whistle, the club’s official X account posted an image showing a player in the home kit with a rival-jerseyed figure under his foot, captioned “Control.”

Earlier, fans had unfurled a banner in the stands carrying the same word as a show of confidence that the team would impose control on the night, and the result bore that out.

The club also released a design showing the foreign players Ivan Tony and Roger Ibanez wielding axes and smashing statues of the rival duo Fabinho and Danilo Pereira, a provocation that sparked a massive reaction among fans.

Commenting on the image, the club wrote: "In every derby we give lessons... we are the big boys of Jeddah."

Aftermath and Reactions

These moments weren't isolated: the taunt and the victory underscored Al Ahli’s growing swagger this season, as they eye the remainder with confidence.

For the rivals, the derby night intensified the season’s ongoing drama in the Saudi Pro League, where every match matters and every taunt makes a headline.

Punchlines: "If swagger were a trophy, Al Ahli would need a bigger shelf—and a security team to hold the fans back."

Punchlines: "Derby nights are like plot twists: you think you’ve seen everything, and then the script gets a red card."