Al-Taawoun vs Al Ittihad – News and Probable Lineups

On Wednesday evening, two teams located fifth and sixth in the Saudi Pro League standings will face off at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, with Al Taawoun aiming to take advantage of Al Ittihad’s recent difficulties and extend their gap from their opponents.

Conceicao’s team approaches this match following a defeat against FC Machida Zelvia and will be keen to regain their winning momentum while playing away.

Match overview

Al Taawoun has had an encouraging season overall, currently holding the fifth position in the Saudi Pro League with 49 points accumulated from 14 victories, seven draws, and eight losses, and showcasing the top attacking and a joint-best defensive record outside the top four, with 52 goals scored and 38 conceded.

Any remaining hopes of securing a spot in continental competitions have likely been dashed by a varied run of performances, with Pericles Chamusca’s squad now sitting 14 points behind fourth-placed Al Qadsiah and only a few matchdays left to play.

Recent results have been inconsistent, featuring two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five games; however, their latest outing saw them achieve a promising 2-1 win away against Al Najma, a result that could enhance their morale ahead of the match on Wednesday.

At the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Al Taawoun has proven to be a challenging opponent, boasting seven wins and four draws from their 14 home matches, and Chamusca’s players will be eager to leverage this advantage against an opponent struggling with confidence.

Conversely, Al Ittihad arrives at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium amid one of the tougher stretches of their season, having secured only one victory from their last four league matches, which has dropped them to sixth place with 45 points derived from 13 wins, six draws, and nine losses.

Sergio Conceicao’s squad appeared capable of finishing in the top four at several points during the season, yet their performance has declined at a crucial moment. Additionally, the departures of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante during the winter transfer window—transferring to Al Hilal and Fenerbahce, respectively—seem to have created a considerable gap that the team has found challenging to fill.

Their most recent game added to their woes, as they suffered a 1-0 loss to FC Machida Zelvia in the AFC Champions League, further deepening the frustration surrounding a club that had significantly higher expectations at the season’s outset.

On the road, Al Ittihad has faced challenges in maintaining consistency, recording four wins, six draws, and four losses from their away encounters.

With the top four now out of reach, Conceicao will focus on ensuring his team finishes the season with some pride, although this will pose a significant challenge against a home side that has much still to strive for.

Head-to-head meetings lend a slight advantage to the visitors, as Al Ittihad has claimed three victories from the last five encounters between the two, with the other two resulting in draws. The latest encounter saw the visitors secure a narrow 1-0 victory.

Team News

Al Taawoun heads into the match without any injury concerns, presenting Chamusca with a complete squad to select from prior to Wednesday’s home fixture.

However, Saad Al Mousa remains questionable, having been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury back in November 2025.

Mohammed Al Dossari and Qassem Lajami are anticipated to be part of the defence, with Andrei Girotto and Mohammed Mahzari also expected to feature at the back, in front of Maylson in goal.

In central midfield, Angelo Fulgini and Aschraf El Mahdioui are projected to join Flavio, while Marin Petkov and Roger Martinez are likely to provide creativity and an attacking threat from advanced positions.

For Al Ittihad, there are no new injury issues heading into Wednesday’s match, allowing Conceicao to select from a largely stable squad.

Predrag Rajkovic is expected to remain in goal, with Danilo Pereira, Stephane Keller, and Mario Mitaj likely to form the defensive line, while Fabinho and Houssem Aouar should anchor the midfield.

Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn are set to add width and pace from the wings, with Youssef En-Nesyri anticipated to spearhead the attack as Al Ittihad seeks to regain their best form outside of home.

Al-Taawoun probable starting XI:

Maylson; Al Dossari, Lajami, Girotto, Mahzari; Fulgini, El Mahdioui, Flavio; Petkov, Martinez, Al Kuwaykibi

Al Ittihad probable starting XI:

Rajkovic; Pereira, Keller, Mitaj; Al-Shanqeeti, Fabinho, Kadesh; Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn; En-Nesyri

Chamusca’s team has made it challenging for rivals at home this season and will aim to finish their campaign positively in front of their fans.

Nonetheless, Al Ittihad possesses enough quality in the final third to pose a threat, and we foresee Conceicao’s team potentially securing all three points away.