Turbulent Waters for Al-Ittihad: Three High-Stakes Tests After the International Break

Al-Ittihad is in a deep crisis as the new season kicks off with a rough start and troubling results in the Roshen Saudi Pro League, the competition they are defending.

The latest derby defeat to Al-Ahli has intensified the pressure on Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, who was brought in to fill the gaps left by Laurent Blanc.

Blanc began the campaign poorly, exiting the Saudi Super Cup at the hands of Al-Nassr, then losing to the same side in the league, and suffering a setback in the Elite AFC Champions League against Al-Wahda.

With the Derby clout behind them, fans now await the team’s form after the international break, as they face three tests in three competitions before the end of November.

Diverse Tests

In the Roshen Saudi Pro League, Al-Ittihad faces a relatively manageable test when hosting Al-Riyadh at the Al-Enma Stadium, a chance for a crowd-pleasing bounce-back.

The stumbling Riyadh club will travel to Al-Ittihad’s ground for a reconciliation match after their poor run this season, in what promises to be a tense affair in front of their supporters.

They play Al-Riyadh on Friday, and Conceicao hopes his side avoids any late surprises and that the upcoming days pass without injuries or shocks.

Asian Mission

Next, Al-Ittihad travels to Doha to face Al-Duhail in the Elite AFC Champions League. While their results in Asia under Conceicao have been favorable—mostly wins—they will need another win away from home to lift the pressure of qualification from the West Asia group early and focus on other tasks ahead.

The Al-Ittihad vs Al-Duhail match is scheduled for Monday, November 24, in Qatar.

Be or Not Be

Having knocked out Al-Nassr in a revenge win in the King’s Cup Round of 16, expectations to defend the domestic title have risen. Al-Ittihad have played cleverly under Conceicao, luring the attack-minded opponent’s defense into traps to secure their spot in the King’s Cup quarterfinal and set up a date with Al-Shabab.

Yet the mission remains tough, as Al-Shabab’s campaign has been challenging this season; the Lions have been scraping wins in the league and their King’s Cup progress was far from straightforward.

The Spanish coach of Al-Shabab knows that losing this cup could spell the end of his project, and the board and fans will not tolerate a slow rebuild if results don’t pick up soon.

Thus, Al-Ittihad and Conceicao face a critical test versus Al-Shabab—either continue the steady path or absorb another defeat that could push his future into the spotlight. If they lose the cup while also struggling in the league, a disappointing season looms, especially after the season-opening Super Cup loss.

Moreover, Al-Ittihad plans to use the upcoming window to run a training camp, and Conceicao will surely have to focus every ounce of energy on chasing victories once play resumes in December and in the Arab Cup where the national side will be involved.

In the domestic campaign, Al-Ittihad’s attack has delivered 14 goals in seven matches, but the defense has leaked 10, underscoring the need for balance as the season progresses.

They’ve endured a difficult domestic campaign so far despite some bright moments, and the upcoming tests in December—four matches—will be decisive for Conceicao, who will also have a chance to reset during the break with a planned training camp.

Punchline 1: If their defense were a joke, it would be punchline-free—still waiting for the save.

Punchline 2: The whistle is sharper than their tactics—time to redefine the script or risk becoming a season-long cliffhanger.