BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN BURAIDAH
The Saudi Pro League might be thousands of miles away, but the glitz, glamour, and sheer star power on display last night felt like a night under the lights in West London. In a high-stakes battle for Asian Champions League qualification, Al Ittihad proved they have the class when it counts, comfortably dispatching Al Taawoun 2-0 at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
The night belonged to the men with the pedigree. Former Lyon and Roma playmaker Houssem Aouar reminded everyone why he was once the most sought-after midfielder in Europe.
In the 19th minute, Aouar ghosted into the box to finish a move started by the marauding Mario Mitaj, silencing the home crowd with a clinical strike that set the tone for the evening.
But Aouar wasn’t finished. In the second half, the Algerian international turned provider, showing incredible vision to tee up Moroccan marksman Youssef En-Nesyri. The former Sevilla man—no stranger to the big stage—made no mistake in the 52nd minute, doubling the lead and effectively killing the contest.
While the goalscorers grabbed the back-page headlines, the engine room was dominated by a familiar face. Former Liverpool powerhouse Fabinho was his usual disruptive self, patrolling the midfield with the authority of a man who has won it all.
Despite picking up a yellow card just before the break, his shielding of the back four ensured Al Ittihad kept a vital clean sheet.
”We knew we had the quality in the final third,” said one traveling fan. “When you see players like Aouar and En-Nesyri clicking, it’s just a matter of time before the goals come.”
The result sees Al Ittihad climb to 48 points, breathing down the necks of Al Taawoun in the race for a top-five finish. With superstars like Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Diaby also featuring in a side that looks increasingly like a ‘Who’s Who’ of European football talent, the Jeddah giants are timing their run for the Champions League to perfection.
Al Taawoun had their moments, with Roger Martínez testing the defense, but they lacked the clinical edge that Ittihad’s multi-million-pound stars brought to the desert heat. On this evidence, the “Tigers” are roar-ing back to their best.
Match Stats at a Glance