Buoyed by the Ballon d’Or holder and a host of headline arrivals, Al Ittihad began this season just as they concluded the last.
The Saudi Pro League champions, still basking in a first title in 14 years, raced out of the blocks in August, winning their first four league matches. They didn’t concede a goal.
The 4-3 defeat in the “Saudi Clasico”, then, felt an aberration. Ittihad were 3-1 up at half-time at home to Al Hilal, but would finish the match beaten, their collective ego more than a little bruised.
But they rebounded to triumph in successive matches, and all felt right in Jeddah once more.
Then they started to stutter. As it stands, Ittihad have failed to win any of their past four league matches, drawing three and losing one. It proved particularly hurtful: it came in the Jeddah derby, at home, to Al Ahli.
Last week, despite Karim Benzema’s opener for the hosts, Ittihad stumbled to a 2-2 draw with Al Hazem, the side second bottom in the table. Ittihad, perched at the summit after those first four rounds, had slipped to sixth.
Of course, it has piled the pressure on manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Where the Portuguese coach was celebrated last season for guiding the storied club to a ninth top-flight title, and in the process resurrecting his own career, the past few weeks have been fraught with criticism and conjecture. With it, they have carried tales of player unrest.
Even back in August, when Ittihad’s form was fantastic, Nuno had to deny rumours of a rift with Benzema. The theory went that Real Madrid’s all-time second-highest goalscorer had been foisted upon the former Tottenham Hotspur manager; that he was a club, or a league, signing as the kingdom’s principal football competition entered its starry new era.
As the results worsened lately, Nuno’s tactics and team selection have been questioned. Benzema has been accommodated – granted, many managers would embrace the luxury of finding a spot for the five-time Uefa Champions League winner – but the team has looked well out of synch. Brazilian compatriots Igor Coronado and Romarinho, so integral last season, were relocated from central roles to the wings. As such, their output receded.
What is more, Fabinho has been poor since joining this summer from Liverpool, while Jota, another big-money recruit, has barely been used following his transfer from Celtic.
It must be said, though, that Nuno has been hamstrung by injuries to accomplished centre-back pair Ahmed Hegazi and Ahmed Sharahili.
He will therefore hope Tuesday’s 3-0 win at Al Fayha in the last 16 of the King’s Cup can spark his side. Abderrazak Hamdallah, the league’s top scorer in 2022/23 but another said to have butted heads with Nuno, scored twice, Benzema adding the other.
Benzema, to be fair, appeared there more like a player afforded one of the most lucrative contracts in Saudi football history. Not only did he score, but he was involved in one of Hamdallah's goal, too. Still, five goals in nine appearances for the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner has fallen way short of his promise.
Thus, Friday would be an opportune time to strengthen that strike rate. Ittihad travel to Al Shabab, the Riyadh-based side with their own troubles this term. Fourth last season, they sacked manager Marcel Keizer after failing to win any of their opening five matches. Since, they have taken 10 points from a possible 18.
Languishing in 11th, Igor Biscan’s appointment as Keizer’s replacement has not been a resounding success, but the team contains the evergreen Ever Banega and the talented Yannick Carrasco. The latter of which acquired in early September, the Belgian has five goals in seven matches.
Arguably, Nuno needs three points on Friday more than his coaching counterpart. Another reverse, this time in Riyadh, and the strain only escalates. Even with that terrific title win, the glow from last season’s success has dulled significantly.
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier
Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
