The penultimate gameweek in the Saudi Pro League will see Al Ittihad taking on Damac at the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on Thursday evening. The hosts will enter this match in fifth place in the league standings with 51 points after 32 games, while the visitors are 10th and on 40 points over the same period. © Reuters Al-Ittihad's title defence has been dismal, and with only two games left to play in the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season, the best finish that the big-spending, PIF-owned club can achieve is fourth place.
Owing in part to an extensive injury list, Nadi Al-Sha'ab's difficulties in the league continued last week when they drew against Al-Khaleej, officially ending their chances of competing for the third spot that qualifies for the AFC Champions League Elite. Against Al-Danah, Ittihad took the lead with a goal by Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti in the first half's stoppage time but their opponents levelled proceedings in the 81st minute through a sensational solo effort by Egyptian international Mohamed Sherif . Despite the lacklustre performance, N'golo Kante was the standout performer for Ittihad, creating three big chances in the match on the same day that he received a recall from the French national team for the upcoming European Championships.
The former Chelsea midfielder was last capped for Les Bleus in 2022. Heightening the post-match tensions, Al-Ittihad's coach Marcelo Gallardo , who will be departing Jeddah at the end of the campaign, refused to .