Preview: Al Ittihad vs Al Khaleej – prediction, group information, lineups

Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad welcome Al Khaleej to Alinma Stadium on Friday night in spherical 24 of the 2025-26 marketing campaign.

The hosts are aiming to return to successful methods after back-to-back attracts, whereas the guests are looking for their first victory in 9 matches.

Match preview

Al Ittihad confirmed glimpses of the preventing spirit that powered final season’s title triumph of their 1-1 draw with Al Hilal on Saturday, however Tuesday’s 1-1 consequence towards Al Hazem was extra reflective of a disappointing title defence this time period.

Sergio Conceicao’s males appeared set for all three factors in Ar Rass after Roger Fernandes’s Eightieth-minute strike, just for Abdulaziz Al-Dwehe to equalise 4 minutes later.

While the Jeddah giants are actually unbeaten in 5 throughout all competitions, their home struggles proceed to overshadow any optimism. They stay sixth within the standings with 39 factors from 23 matches, 17 factors adrift of present leaders Al Ahli.

Having misplaced Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante in the course of the winter window to Al Hilal and Fenerbahce respectively, Al Ittihad danger being left behind by their fellow PIF-owned golf equipment if their fortunes don’t enhance quickly.

Success on this season’s AFC Champions League would undoubtedly masks a number of the cracks, and on that entrance, Nadi Al-Watan will face Al Wahda within the spherical of 16.

Given their underwhelming league marketing campaign to this point, the house aspect may very well be forgiven for waiting for subsequent week’s continental task. First, although, they need to negotiate Friday’s conflict with Al Khaleej, who haven’t received any of the earlier 17 conferences between the groups.

© Imago

After ending 2025 with 4 straight defeats, Al Khaleej appeared to have turned a nook with three wins and a draw from their opening 4 fixtures of 2026.

Georgios Donis’s aspect have been crushed for the primary time this 12 months by Al Ahli on January 20—a consequence that triggered an eight-match winless streak, with 5 of these ending in defeat, together with Tuesday’s agonising 3-2 loss to Al Kholood.

While the Eagles aren’t in rapid relegation hazard, their hopes of securing a top-half end for the primary time in a decade are hanging by a thread as they sit ninth, albeit simply two factors away from Al Hazem in thirteenth.

Boasting the league’s fifth-best assault with 42 objectives—three greater than Al Ittihad—Al Khaleej have had little bother scoring, however their output on the prime finish of the pitch has often been undermined by a porous defence, having conceded 37 instances.

Facing an Al Ittihad aspect which have opened the scoring in eight of their final 10 matches, Friday’s guests might want to keep compact early on if they’re to have any probability of lastly securing their maiden victory on this fixture.

Al Ittihad Saudi Pro League kind:

Al Ittihad kind (all competitions):

Al Khaleej Saudi Pro League kind:

Team News

© Imago / Alterphotos

Al Ittihad’s Saad Al Mousa has been sidelined since early November with a damaged ankle and stays out of rivalry.

Abdulrahman Al-Oboud is one other long-term absentee for the hosts, who’re additionally with out Saleh Al-Shehri, Ahmed Yousef Al Julaydan and Faisal Al-Ghamdi.

Meanwhile, Hassan Kadesh is accessible as soon as once more after serving a one-game suspension for his pink card towards Al Hilal.

With 14 objectives in 20 appearances to this point, Joshua King is on observe for his highest-scoring league season, though he’s presently a doubt for Al Khaleej.

Kostas Fortounis leads the league in assists with 11 and can look so as to add to his tally on Thursday after a man-of-the-match show within the reverse fixture, the place he racked up two objectives and two assists.

Dimitrios Kourbelis is anticipated to fit proper again into central midfield as he returns from a ban, which means Mansour Hamzi may drop out.

Al Ittihad doable beginning lineup:

Rajkovic; Mitaj, Sharahili, Fabinho, Fernandes; Al Nashiri, Doumbia; Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn; En Nesyri

Al Khaleej doable beginning lineup:

Moris; Al Hamsal, Asiri, Al Khabrani, Rebocho; Al Eisa, Kanabah, Kourbelis, Fernandes; Fortounis, Masouras

We say: Al Ittihad 2-1 Al Khaleej

Al Ittihad have been a shadow of themselves this season, however their residence kind has been spectacular, with 9 wins from their final 10 matches.

We are backing the hosts to see off their guests and edge a slim victory on the finish of 90 minutes.

For information evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.