Al Okhdood vs Al Ittihad

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Catch the highly anticipated match of Al Okhdood vs Al Ittihad. Explore team news, tactical insights, and how this match sets the tone for the season.

The Saudi Pro League is back, and defending champions Al Ittihad are kicking off their title defense with an away trip to Prince Hathloul Stadium to take on Al Okhdood this Saturday. It’s a matchup that promises excitement, with the hosts looking to make a statement and the visitors aiming to reassert their dominance.

Al Okhdood barely clung to their top-flight status last season, finishing just one point above the relegation zone. The club earned their first-ever promotion to the Saudi Pro League in 2022-23, coming in second in the second division, only four points behind Al Ahli. Since then, it’s been a wild ride for Al Okhdood, who’ve fought tooth and nail to stay in the top tier, surviving by the skin of their teeth with a single point to spare in each of their two seasons.

Last term, a crucial win on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign helped Al Okhdood leapfrog Al Tai and Abha to secure 15th place with 33 points. They also closed out the season with back-to-back victories, which nudged them to 15th again, just a point clear of the drop. Manager Paulo Sergio, who took the reins in February and guided the team to safety, is now hoping to steer Al Okhdood away from the relegation scrap entirely. A shock win against the champs on opening day would be the perfect way to set the tone.

Al Okhdood face a daunting task hosting Al Ittihad, who clinched the league title last season by a commanding eight-point margin. Pulling off a victory on matchday one would be a massive upset. However, Al Ittihad aren’t exactly strolling into this game in top form. After rattling off seven straight wins to close out last season, they’ve hit a rough patch with four consecutive losses, including three in pre-season and a defeat to Al Nassr in the Super Cup semi-final.

Still, Al Ittihad remain heavy favorites. They’ve got a stellar record against Al Okhdood, winning three of their four previous meetings, and their confidence will be sky-high as they launch their new campaign. The squad is stacked with star power, with names like Karim Benzema, Moussa Diaby, Steven Bergwijn, N’Golo Kante, and Fabinho all likely to feature in the starting lineup. There might be a slight tweak in defense, with Fabinho potentially slotting into center-back in place of Saad Al-Mousa after the Super Cup loss, which could open the door for new signing Hamed Al-Ghamdi to shine in midfield.

On the home side, Al Okhdood have been busy in the transfer market, bringing in fresh faces to bolster their chances of staying up. New striker Blaz Kramer could spearhead their attack, while Samuel Portugal, Mohammed Abo Abd, and Koray Gunter are all in contention to start. With a revamped squad and a point to prove, Al Okhdood will be gunning for a surprise result against the reigning champs.

This clash at Prince Hathloul Stadium sets the stage for an intriguing start to the Saudi Pro League season. Can Al Okhdood pull off a stunner, or will Al Ittihad’s firepower prove too much? Saturday’s showdown is one to watch!

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