Shabab's Carrasco in Doubt Ahead of Saudi Cup Showdown with Al Ittihad

Ahead of the Quarterfinal

The Lions are at risk of losing their star as Yannick Carrasco missed Thursday training ahead of Saturday’s King’s Cup quarterfinal with Al Ittihad in Jeddah, casting doubt on his availability.

The club did not confirm his status, but local reports suggest he may be sidelined, having also missed the previous league game against Al Akhdood.

Carrasco has been sidelined with a muscular injury sustained against Al Ettifaq in Round 8 and underwent a treatment and rehabilitation program in France with the club’s medical staff.

Despite Shabab’s uneven league form, the Belgian winger remains the team’s standout, with 7 goals and 5 assists in 13 appearances, while Carlos Junior has slipped form and Abdul Razak Hamdallah has been missing at times, increasing Carrasco’s impact.

The King’s Cup presents a vital chance for Shabab to salvage the season, as they have secured only one win in the Saudi Pro League so far.

Al Ittihad, meanwhile, comes into the match under pressure after a continental setback to Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League, with Sérgio Conceição seeking to steady a squad that has seen results dip after the departure of Laurent Blanc. The club is expected to strengthen in January, and Benzema has returned to full training, boosting their attack, though all foreign players will play with Moussa Diaby suspended for two matches.

Diaby’s red card against Riyadh also stands out as part of a season that has already seen six dismissals for the club, the most in Saudi football this year.

Update: Benzema’s readiness He trained today with the group, easing fears about his participation in the quarterfinal. Conceição focused on tactical drills and set-piece plans to counter Shabab, with all foreign-based players involved except Diaby.

Diaby’s suspension will keep him out, while Benzema’s fitness could tilt the balance in a tightly contested tie.

Punchline: If Carrasco plays, he’ll slice through defenses like a hot knife through butter; if not, the bench will still be sharp enough to carve out a win—just with more strategic napping than celebration. And remember, in football as in comedy, timing is everything—tonight, the stars might align, or we’ll all pretend we knew what we were watching anyway.