Moroccan star Abderrazak Hamdallah, the striker for Al-Shabab's first football team, expressed his great optimism and happiness with the club's management's decision to appoint veteran Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri as the team's technical director, succeeding Spanish coach Imanol Algausil, whose contract was recently terminated due to declining results.

Hamdallah's statements and support for the Arab coach

Speaking on the "Action with Waleed" program on Tuesday evening, Hamdallah confirmed that the appointment of Benzekri represents a very positive step for the team's future. The Moroccan striker said, "He is a very good coach, and we are fortunate to have him with us, because he is an exceptional coach who has proven his success and competence during his previous stints in the Saudi Professional League.".

Hamdallah did not limit himself to technical praise, but also touched on a crucial point related to confidence in Arab coaches, adding: “We often look towards European coaches, and forget that we have Arab coaches with a high level of competence and the ability to lead and achieve accomplishments,” in a clear reference to the need to give the opportunity to Arab coaching talents who understand the mentality of the player and the surrounding environment.

Noureddine Ben Zekri... a man for difficult tasks

The appointment of Noureddine Benzekri comes at a sensitive time for Al-Shabab, as the Algerian coach is known in Saudi sporting circles as "the man for tough jobs" or "the savior." Benzekri boasts an impressive track record in the Saudi Professional League, having previously managed Al-Raed, Al-Fayha, and Damac, achieving notable results with them. His most prominent achievement was his exceptional ability to rescue teams from relegation zones and improve defensive organization and the fighting spirit of his players.

Challenges of the next stage for the youth

Al-Shabab fans are placing high hopes on Benzekri's extensive experience in Saudi football to guide the team back to winning ways. The club officially announced the signing of the Algerian coach last night following a string of poor results under Spaniard Emanuel Algausil, prompting urgent administrative intervention to correct the course before it was too late. Benzekri is expected to focus on the players' mental state, an area where he excels, in addition to instilling tactical discipline on the field.

The upcoming match for Al-Shabab is expected to be closely watched by fans to see the first impression of the new coach, and how he utilizes the stars in the team, especially Abderrazak Hamdallah, to restore the team's prestige and compete for advanced positions in the standings.

The group training of Al-Ittihad's first football team witnessed good news for the technical staff and fans, with the regular participation of the young attacking midfielder Farha Al-Shamrani , as part of the intensive preparations that "Al-Ameed" is carrying out in preparation for the anticipated fiery confrontation against its traditional rival Al-Hilal in the summit of the Roshan Professional League matches.

Al-Shamrani's return and details of his participation

The addition of 19-year-old Al-Shamrani to Al-Ittihad's training sessions provides the coaching staff with additional options in midfield. The young player had a brief loan spell with Al-Riyadh during the 2025/2026 season, where he played just one match for 12 minutes against Al-Fateh, before his loan was terminated and he returned to represent Al-Ittihad once again. This reflects the club's desire to utilize its young talent during the crucial stage of the season.

The importance of El Clásico and the context of the competition

The match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal carries immense significance, transcending the mere fact that it's a three-pointer; it represents the "Saudi Clasico," a highly anticipated fixture with a massive following both locally and regionally, given the rich history shared by the two clubs and the presence of world-class stars in their ranks. This match comes at a particularly crucial time for Al-Ittihad, who are striving to improve their position in the standings and appease their fans by securing a positive result against the league leaders.

The two teams' positions in the Roshan League table

The two teams enter the match with contrasting ambitions, reflected in their statistics. Al- Hilal atop the Roshan League standings with 53 points, consistently delivering performances that make them the strongest contender for the title. In contrast, Al- Ittihad struggling with inconsistent results, placing them sixth with 37 points – a position unbecoming of a former champion. Therefore, a victory in this match is crucial to close the gap and move closer to the top spots that qualify for continental competitions.

Date of the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Hilal match

Al-Ittihad is set to be a formidable guest against Al-Hilal in a crucial match scheduled for 10:00 PM next Saturday. This encounter falls within the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, and sports fans eagerly anticipate a high-quality football match befitting the reputation and rapid development of Saudi football.

Al-Nassr's Portuguese coach, Jesus, announced the official lineup for their match against Turkmenistan's Erkadag, scheduled for Wednesday evening, in the second leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16. This crucial match comes at a time when Al-Nassr is seeking to confirm its continental dominance and advance to the final stages of the tournament.

The starting lineup saw notable tactical changes, most prominently the return of goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi to Al-Nassr's goal after his absence from previous matches due to a tactical decision. This provides a morale boost to the defense. The lineup also saw defensive reinforcement with the return of veteran Spanish defender Iñigo Martínez to the starting eleven, reflecting coach Jorge Jesus's desire to solidify the back line and secure a positive result.

Victory lineup for the Arkadag match

Al-Nasr's coaching staff has settled on the following names to start the match, relying on a mix of young players and experienced ones:

• Goalkeeper: Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
• Defense line: Nawaf Boushal, Inigo Martinez, Nader Al-Sharari, Salem Al-Najdi.
• Midfield: Ali Al-Hassan, Angelo Gabriel, Ayman Yahya.
• Attack line: Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Mohammed Maran, Abdullah Al-Hamdan.

Context of the match and importance of the event

Al-Nasr enters this match with a slight advantage after securing a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the home ground of Arkadag. Despite the away win, knockout matches in Asian competitions always demand caution and high concentration, especially against ambitious teams like Arkadag, who are striving to represent Turkmen football in the best possible way.

Al-Nassr's participation in the AFC Champions League is of paramount importance, as Saudi clubs strive to maintain their dominance in Asian football across its various competitions. Reaching the quarterfinals is a crucial step for Al-Nassr to compete for the title, adding particular significance to today's match to demonstrate the technical and physical readiness of both reserve and starting players, especially given the pressure of domestic and continental fixtures.

Al-Nasr fans are counting on the dynamism of attacking players like Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Abdullah Al-Hamdan to unlock the opponent's defense early, while relying on the solidity of Martinez and Al-Aqidi at the back to keep a clean sheet and secure passage to the next round.