Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad have had a horror start to their 2025-26 campaign, and with 11 points in eight games (3W 2D 3L) they're languishing in 8th. Not having won any of their last five games in the league, Sérgio Conceição -- who was only appointed in October, replacing title winning manager Laurent Blanc -- will be under considerable pressure to turn things around. Al Riyadh, with eight points in eight, are currently 12th and will be sensing an opportunity to get one over the big boys of the Saudi league.
Will Ittihad be able to start a mid-season revival on Friday? Here's everything you need to know about the match:
How to watch:
The match will be available on ESPN Africa across Sub-Saharan Africa and FanCode in India. You can also follow ESPN's live updates.
Note: How to tune in to ESPN -- ESPN: DStv 218, StarTimes 248 and ESPN2: DStv 219, StarTimes 249
Key Details:
Date: Friday, Nov 21 at 5.15 p.m. CAT (6.15 p.m. Saudi; 8.45 p.m. IST)
Venue: Alinma Bank Stadium at King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah
Expected Lineups:
Al Ittihad
GK: Predrag Rajkovic
RB: Ahmed Al Julaydan | CB: Saad Al Mosa | CB: Danilo Pereira | LB: Mario Mitaj
CM: N'Golo Kanté | CM: Houssem Aouar| CM: Fabinho
RW: Moussa Diaby | CF: Karim Benzema | LW: Roger Fernandes
Al Riyadh
GK: Milan Borjan
RB: Osama Al Boardi | CB: Mohammed Alkhaibari | CB: Yoann Barbet | LB: Sulaiman Hazazi
RM: Teddy Okou | CM: Toze | CM: Sergio González | LM: Mamadou Sylla
CF: Muhammad Sahlouli | CF:Talal Haji
Stats:
Al Ittihad have no one in the top 10 of this season's top scorers (Karim Benzema, with 3, is joint 16th along with teammate Steven Bergwijn and several others), while Al Riyadh's top scorer Mamadou Sylla is 9th on the list with four goals.
Despite that, Al Ittihad have scored 6 more goals than Al Riyadh (15 v 9). It's closer in the goals conceded column, with the hosts conceding 14 and the visitors 17.
No team has made more passes this season than Al Ittihad (4224). Al Riyadh, meanwhile, have made the fewest of any SPL side (2271).
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