Al Shabab vs Al Ittihad – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday evening, Al Shabab will face Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League during a penultimate round clash, as Sergio Conceicao’s team aims to maintain their recent dominance in head-to-head encounters with the hosts.

Al Ittihad, currently positioned fifth in the standings with 55 points, arrives with positive momentum, whereas Al Shabab will be eager to uplift their fans with a strong performance before the season concludes.

Match overview

This season has proven tough for Al Shabab, who are 14th in the Saudi Pro League with 32 points accrued from seven victories, 11 draws, and 14 losses, reflecting their struggle to stay competitive in the top tier.

The home side has failed to secure a win in their last five league matches, suffering heavy setbacks against Al Taawoun (5-1) and Al-Nassr (4-2), followed by a narrow 2-1 defeat to Neom.

During these five games, Noureddine Zekri’s team conceded 14 goals, with issues in defensive transitions and organization around the penalty area continually evident under pressure.

Even playing at home, where Al Shabab managed five wins, four draws, and seven losses, their performances have lacked stability.

Fortunately for them, relegation is not a looming concern anymore – they find themselves six points clear of 16th-placed Al Riyadh, with two matches left, alongside a significantly better goal difference of -13 compared to Al Riyadh’s -29.

Al Ittihad, in contrast, boasts significantly better form, holding fifth place in the table with 55 points from 16 wins, seven draws, and nine losses.

Conceicao’s squad has lost just once in their last five outings across all competitions, securing three victories and a draw. Their most recent match saw them achieve a composed 3-1 away win against Al Ettifaq, who are seventh in the league.

On the road, Al Ittihad has performed well, achieving six wins, six draws, and four losses this season.

With 49 goals scored and 39 conceded, they maintain a definitive advantage over Al Shabab in both attacking and defensive metrics ahead of their match on Sunday.

The last five encounters between these teams have ended in victories for Al Ittihad, including a 2-0 triumph in their latest meeting, and current league standings provide little indication that this dominance might change.

Team News

Al Shabab will be without forward Carlos, who remains unavailable for selection on Sunday.

Expected to continue forming the defensive core are Mohammed Al-Shwirekh and Wesley Hoedt, while Yacine Adli and Vincent Sierro are likely to retain their positions in midfield.

Leading the line for the hosts will be Yannick Carrasco, who scored in his last match, bringing his tally to 17 goals for the season, with Ali Azaizeh and Hammam Al-Hammami expected to provide support from the forward positions.

Saad Al-Mousa is a doubt for Al Ittihad due to an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since November 2025.

Danilo Pereira has been the standout defensive figure for Al Ittihad this season, setting a high standard at the back along with Jan-Carlo Simic and Predrag Rajkovic keeping goal.

Houssem Aouar is set to play a pivotal role in Al Ittihad’s creative play following a series of strong performances.

The midfielder not only scored but was also named the man of the match against Damac, and he will aim to orchestrate the play once more on Sunday.

Expected to complete the midfield setup are Fabinho and Awad Al-Nashri, with Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn offering attacking options ahead of them.

Al Shabab probable starting XI:

grohe; Makki, Hoedt, Al-Shwirekh, Al-Thani; Al-Hammami, Adli, Sierro, Brownhill; Carrasco, Azaizeh

Al Ittihad probable starting XI:

Rajkovic; Al-Shanqeeti, Simic, Pereira, Kadesh; Aouar, Fabinho, Al-Nashri, Mitaj; Diaby, Bergwijn

Al Ittihad has consistently controlled recent fixtures against Al Shabab, and the disparity in form, defensive stability, and attacking prowess between the two teams suggests it is hard to foresee a different result this Sunday.

Conceicao’s squad has claimed victory in their last five meetings with the hosts and possesses the quality needed across the pitch to secure a sixth.