Al Ittihad vs. Al Taawoun: Preview

Al Ittihad and Al-Taawoun will both aim to secure their second win of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season when they meet at King Abdullah Sports City on Thursday night. Both teams began the new league season with victories, and they are among the seven teams that collected all three points on the opening weekend. For Al Ittihad, last season was a setback, as they not only lost the title but also missed out on continental competition, finishing fifth in the league.

Despite signing high-profile players like Fabinho, N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, and Jota, Al Ittihad struggled last season, earning only 54 points from 34 games, and ended up 42 points behind league champions Al-Hilal. Consequently, they parted ways with Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo and hired Laurent Blanc, who had previously managed Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.

Al Ittihad vs. Al Taawoun: Team Form & Head-to-Head Stats

Although Blanc lost his first three preseason friendlies, he led Al Ittihad to a 2-0 win over Inter Milan and a narrow 1-0 victory over Al Kholood in his Pro League debut, thanks to a last-minute goal from new signing Houssem Aouar.

Their next challenge is against Al-Taawoun, who had a strong 2023-24 season, finishing just ahead of Al Ittihad. Despite a lower budget compared to other top teams, Al-Taawoun’s standout signing was Musa Barrow, acquired for around £7m. The club has since replaced Brazilian coach Pericles Chamusca with Rodolfo Arruabarrena, former manager of the UAE national team and Pyramids. Arruabarrena’s debut match ended in a 2-0 loss to Al-Nassr, but Al-Taawoun managed a late 1-0 win against Al Fayha in their first league match.

In their historical encounters, Al-Taawoun and Al-Ittihad have faced each other 31 times. Al-Taawoun has secured only eight victories and suffered 15 defeats. Recently, Al-Taawoun has managed to remain unbeaten in their last three matches against Al-Ittihad, with their last two meetings ending in draws: 0-0 in April 2024 and 1-1 in October 2023. On the other hand, Al-Ittihad has not lost at home to Al-Taawoun in their last six encounters, although they have only won twice in that span. Their most recent home defeat to Al-Taawoun was in March 2018, when Al-Taawoun won 5-3.

Team News

Photo byMaxim HopmanonUnsplash

Al Ittihad will be without long-term absentees Ahmed Sharahili and Ahmed Bamasud due to cruciate ligament injuries. Blanc has already made changes, starting Moussa Diaby instead of Jota, who is not in his plans for the season.

Al-Taawoun will be missing three players: Rakan Al-Tulayhi (cruciate ligament injury), Mateus (tendon injury), and Mohammed Mahzari (knock). Additionally, Brazilian defender Luis Felipe is doubtful due to a training injury, and Ibrahim Al-Shuail will be sidelined after a recent red card.

Al Ittihad vs. Al Taawoun: Probable Starting XI

Al Ittihad: Rajkovic; Al Yami, Mousa, Al-Shanqeeti, Kadesh; Kante, Fabinho; Diaby, Aouar, Al-Ghamdi; Benzema

Al-Taawoun: Maylson; Al-Jumayah, Girotto, Al-Ahmed, Al Nasser; El Mahdioui, Al Kuwaykibi, Flavio, Bahusayn, Barrow; Dos Santos

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Article originally written by Jaineel Kariya