Al Ittihad vs Al Akhdoud prediction 26.01.2026 | Saudi Professional League

Defending champions Al Ittihad have endured a deeply underwhelming title-defence campaign under Portuguese head coach Sergio Conceicao, whose position is increasingly under scrutiny. The Jeddah-based side currently sit only seventh in the standings, trailing runaway leaders Al Hilal by a daunting 14-point margin.

The Yellow-Blacks head into this fixture on the back of consecutive defeats, having fallen 1-0 at home to Al Ettifaq before suffering a 2-1 loss away at Al Qadsiah. That sequence has extended their winless league run to three matches (D1, L2), a worrying downturn in form that has begun to cast serious doubt over their prospects of securing continental football next season.

Conceicao will undoubtedly demand a sharper edge in the final third, as Al Ittihad’s attacking output has fallen well below expectations. The side have managed no more than one goal in all but one of their last five Saudi Pro League outings, highlighting a clear lack of cutting edge at crucial moments.

Team selection also remains uncertain. Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn was absent from the most recent league defeat to Al Qadsiah for undisclosed reasons, while influential midfielders N’Golo Kante and Awad Al-Nashri are both fitness doubts, further complicating preparations for this crucial encounter.

On their path stands Al Okhdood, a side once again embroiled in a tense battle against relegation in the Saudi Pro League, having narrowly secured survival by just a single point in each of their first two top-flight campaigns since promotion.

Al Ittihad’s Monday visitors have managed only nine points from 16 challenging matches, but the appointment of Marius Sumudica in early January appears to be paying dividends. Under the Romanian’s guidance, the team has already collected four points from as many outings.

The Ambassadors of Najran head into this difficult away clash buoyed by a morale-boosting performance, securing an entertaining 2-2 draw against Al Riyadh last time out. Nevertheless, their away form remains a significant weakness, with just a single point from their opening seven road fixtures and a 2-15 goal deficit highlighting their struggles.

On the positive side, Sumudica will have nearly a full squad at his disposal, with only a handful of minor injury concerns, providing maximum flexibility in his tactical approach for this crucial fixture.