As night falls, the focus of Saudi soccer is on the home field of Ittihad, and the opponent is Jeddah Al-Ali. Etihad's star-studded squad, the "French Gang" led by Binschmar and Nicolajandi, are on a winning streak, and will be looking to take on Hilal at the top of the table. They are expected to not only keep the half handicap, but also seal the victory when the final whistle blows.
Looking back at last season, Etihad struggled in chaos, but this year, the arrival of Branz brought new energy to the team. The "presidential" coach, who helped France win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, is trusted by the "French gang". The addition of stars such as Benschmar, Nicolajandi, Aioa, and Moussa Dayabi to the team has certainly given Etihad a strong impetus. With six consecutive victories and four consecutive home wins, Etihad is gradually narrowing the gap with Hilal, and the battle for the title is about to begin.
On the other hand, Jeddah Aly's side, despite the presence of stars such as Males, Roberto Firmino and Evandoni, their overall performance has not lived up to expectations. In their last seven league matches, they have only won two, drawn two and lost three. Despite wins against Ainas and Hilal, the eighth-ranked side's 1-1 draw with Ekodo and an injury to goalkeeper Aidoo Yavendi overshadowed the match. It is worrying to see whether Jeddah Ali will be able to withstand the onslaught against the wolf-like Ittihad.
