Derby Tactics and Tenacity: Conceição Aims to Shape Al-Ittihad’s Night in Jeddah

Derby Week Preview

Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição of Al-Ittihad stressed that he would not treat the Jeddah derby as anything beyond another game, insisting that every match deserves the same seriousness and focus.

Match Details and Standings

The clash with Al-Ahli is scheduled for Saturday at the Al-Enmaa Stadium, as the eighth round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League approaches. Al-Ittihad currently sits eighth with 11 points, while Al-Ahli sits fifth with 13 points, setting the scene for a tightly contested derby.

Conceição said, “We will treat the match with Al-Ahli as we would any other game. We know the quality of Al-Ahli, and we aim to impose the champion’s personality in every match.” He also admitted regret over wasted opportunities in previous fixtures and emphasized the need to convert chances and tighten the defense.

“Al-Ahli not only has a solid defense but also a strong midfield and attack. I am working on finishing our chances and preventing goals,” Conceição added. He concluded, “I don’t have a lot of time to prepare, but things will improve after the break with rest and a tactical session on the eve of the match.”

Conceição’s Derby Debut

For Al-Ahli, German coach Matthias Jaissle has a respectable derby record against Al-Ittihad since taking charge in 2023, claiming two wins and one draw in four meetings, while scoring four goals and conceding three.

By contrast, this derby on Saturday will be Conceição’s first in charge of Al-Ittihad after replacing former coach Laurent Blanc due to poor results.

Absences in the Camp

Al-Ittihad will be without Brazilian Fabinho Taveres and defender Ahmed Sharahili for the Jeddah derby. Sharahili remains unavailable due to ongoing fitness and readiness concerns following a left thigh injury, which the club officially announced on October 24. Fabinho misses out due to a red card against Gulf in the seventh round, a decision that sparked substantial match scrutiny.

Sharahili joined Al-Ittihad in 2022 from Al-Hilal and played a direct role in securing league and domestic cup glory, though injuries have sidelined him for much of last season. Meanwhile, Bergwijn’s return to scoring form after a 50-day drought gave the team a much-needed boost ahead of the derby.

He scored a crucial goal to seal a victory for his club in the AFC Champions League group stage, reaching six goals across all competitions this season after finishing with 13 last season in 29 appearances.

Disciplinary Actions

The Saudi Football Federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced penalties for Round 7: Fabinho received a 10,000 SAR fine for a red card against Gulf, while Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) also faced a red card sanction. Moussa Dembele (Al-Ettifaq) and Al-Ahli were fined 10,000 SAR each for other disciplinary incidents, and Al-Ahli was fined 60,000 SAR following fans throwing water bottles onto the pitch during their match with Al-Riyadh.

Administrative Developments

News from the “Al-Riyadiya” outlets noted that Al-Ittihad Club formed an executive committee to oversee multiple sports, a decision designed to strengthen governance and development aligned with the club’s strategy and budgets. The panel is chaired by Dr. Faisal Basha and includes Domingos Oliveira, Emad Al-Rifai, and Roy Lanca as secretary, with several external members contributing to governance and sports development.

As the derby looms, both teams balance injuries, suspensions, and the weight of expectations, while fans prepare for another chapter in a heated Jeddah rivalry.

Joke time: If this derby were a movie, the subtitle would be “blocking tackles and chasing glory,” with the director yelling, “Cue the dramatic slow-mo of a long pass that somehow ends up in the stands.” Punchline two: My GPS asked if I wanted to park at the stadium or in the fans’ section—I said, “Surprise me, I’m here for the plot twist.”