When En-Nesyri Leads the Charge: Clerks of the Bench Stir a Saudi Classic
6 February 2026
In a high-stakes Saudi Pro League clash, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus of Al-Nassr surprised everyone with the lineup announced to face Al-Ittihad on Friday night, the marquee match of Round 21 in the Roshen Saudi Pro League.
Al-Nassr sit in third with 46 points, while Al-Ittihad are sixth with 34.
The starting XI for the World squad featured three defenders at the back: Spanish defender Inigo Martinez, Frenchman Mohamed Cimakan, and Abdulrahman Al-Omari.
It appears Jesus will deploy a 3-4-3 formation, a departure from the team’s previous 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 templates.
Al-Nassr lineup
Goalkeeper: Bento Matheus.
Defence: Martinez - Cimakan - Al-Omari.
Midfield: Sultan Al-Ghannam - Abdullah Khubayri - Marcelo Brozovic - Angelo Gabriel.
Attack: Kingsley Coman - Sadio Mane - Joao Felix.
Additionally, Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao pushed Moroccan Youssef En-Nesyri into the starting XI after his arrival in recent days, replacing Karim Benzema who moved to Al Hilal.
Conceicao also started the young Ahmed Al-Jalidan instead of N Golo Kanté, who moved to Fenerbahce; otherwise, no major changes.
Al-Ittihad lineup
Goalkeeper: Predrag Rajkovic.
Defence: Mohannad Al-Shanqeiti - Danilo Pereira - Hassan Kadish - Mario Mitaie.
Midfield: Ahmed Al-Jalidan - Fabinho - Mamadou Doumbia.
Attack: Musa Diaby - Youssef En-Nesyri - Houssam Aouar.
In defense, Al-Ittihad fielded their own trio: Mohannad Al-Shanqeiti, Danilo Pereira, Hassan Kadish, and Mario Mitaie.
Key middlemen were Al-Jalidan, Fabinho and Mamadou Doumbia, with Musa Diaby, Youssef En-Nesyri and Houssam Aouar up front.
Punchlines: If football is chess, this game just turned into a blitz with a knight who forgot the rules. If this is a preview, wait for the post-match press conference—somebody’s claiming a miracle save happened in the car park.
