Al-Ittihad has once again proven their dominance in Saudi football by winning the Saudi Pro League title for the 10th time overall. Their recent 3-1 victory over relegated Al-Raed at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Thursday confirmed their second league crown in just three years.
Early Challenge Overcome by Al-Ittihad
The match began with an unexpected twist as Al-Raed took an early lead in the 9th minute thanks to Oumar Gonzalez, who took advantage of a rare slip by Al-Ittihad’s N’Golo Kante. However, Ittihad quickly regained control. Steven Bergwijn leveled the score in the 25th minute after a sharp assist from Abdulrahman Al Obud, reigniting the hopes of the home crowd.
Dominance Established Before Halftime
By the 40th minute, Al-Ittihad had taken the lead when Danilo Pereira, ex-PSG defender, headed in a perfectly delivered corner from Unai Hernandez. This goal gave Laurent Blanc’s team a well-deserved advantage going into halftime.
Quick Second-Half Goal Secures Victory
Al-Ittihad wasted no time after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, another defensive error by Al-Raed allowed Abdulrahman Al Obud to tap in and extend the lead to 3-1. The home fans erupted in celebration as Al-Ittihad took a commanding position.
Despite Al-Raed trying to fight back with several shots in the second half, Ittihad maintained control of the game and their tempo. The win gave them an unbeatable nine-point lead over their closest rivals, Al-Hilal.
Saudi Pro League Table Updates: Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Shabab Make Moves
In other matches, Al-Qadisiyah climbed to third place after a 3-1 win against Al-Wehda, pushing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr down to fourth. Cameron Puertas was a standout performer, scoring twice and assisting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late goal.
Al-Shabab also recorded a 3-1 win over Al-Riyadh, with goals from Musab Al Juwayr, Haroune Camara, and Cristian Guanca. They are now just four points behind the top five, aiming for a strong finish.
Al-Ittihad’s Historic 10th Title and League Legacy
This victory marks Al-Ittihad’s 10th Saudi Pro League title, adding to their previous wins in 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2023. With this achievement, Al-Ittihad surpasses Al-Nassr, who have nine titles, making them the second most successful club in league history. Only Al-Hilal stands ahead with a record 19 titles.
Jeddah’s clubs, led by Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, now have a combined total of 12 league championships. Riyadh’s clubs—Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Shabab—still hold the lead with 34 titles between them.
