In an official statement on Saturday evening, Al-Ittihad Saudi Club revealed details of the medical condition of eight of its players, explaining the nature of the injuries they are suffering from and the treatment programs prescribed for them, at a sensitive time in the football season in which the team is competing on several local and continental fronts.

Details of the medical report for Al-Ittihad players

The Al-Ittihad media center indicated that the medical staff is closely monitoring the health of several key players. The injured players have been divided into two groups based on the nature of their injuries and treatment plans

• The first group (rehabilitation programs) includes Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Saleh Al-Shehri, Dutch star Steven Bergwijn, and defender Saad Al-Mousa. This quartet continues to undergo intensive and specialized treatment and rehabilitation programs to ensure their return to the field in peak physical condition.
• The second group (minor injuries): The club explained that the quartet consisting of Roger Fernandez, the brilliant winger Moussa Diaby, in addition to the brothers Ahmed Sharahili and Muhannad Sharahili, have undergone treatment during the past few days for minor injuries that are not a cause for great concern, and are being prepared to return to group training.

Critical timing and continental challenges

This announcement of a spate of injuries comes at a critical time for Al-Ittihad, as the team prepares for tough competitions that demand the readiness of all its players. The injuries to key players like Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn pose a significant challenge for the coaching staff, given their tactical importance in attack and playmaking, thus placing additional pressure on the bench to compensate for the potential absences.

A highly anticipated match against Al-Gharafa in the Asian Champions League

Meanwhile, all eyes of Saudi and Asian football fans are on the upcoming match, where Al-Ittihad will host Qatari side Al-Gharafa. The match is scheduled for 9:15 PM next Tuesday, as part of the seventh round of the group stage in the current edition of the AFC Champions League.

This match is of paramount importance in the qualification calculations, as Al-Ittihad seeks to strengthen its position in the standings and secure a place in the knockout stages. Al-Ittihad enters the match in sixth place in its group with nine points, accumulated from a mix of wins and results, while Al-Gharafa sits in ninth place with six points. This makes the encounter a "six-pointer" for the Qatari team, which is striving to join the ranks of the qualified teams. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of its fans to widen the points gap and take a step closer to competing for the continental title, a competition in which the club boasts a rich historical legacy.

In a thrilling night of football that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last moment, Napoli snatched a dramatic and precious 3-2 away victory against Genoa in the 24th round of the Italian Serie A. This win not only secured the three points for the defending champions but also kept their title hopes alive, strengthening their hold on third place and maintaining pressure on Milan's two giants, Inter and AC Milan.

The match began explosively, with the home side surprising the visitors with an early goal in the third minute from a penalty successfully converted by Ukrainian Ruslan Malinovskyi. However, Antonio Conte's men responded swiftly and decisively; within just two minutes, Napoli turned the game around. Danish midfielder Rasmus Hojlund equalized in the 20th minute, before Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay added a second goal in the 21st minute, giving Napoli temporary control of the match.

The second half held real drama that almost shattered Napoli's hopes. After a glaring defensive error, Lorenzo Colombo managed to equalize for Genoa in the 57th minute. The visitors' troubles increased when they were forced to finish the match with ten men after Brazilian defender Juan Jesus was sent off in the 76th minute for receiving his second yellow card, putting the team under immense pressure to at least secure a point.

Just when everyone thought the match was headed for a draw, substitute Maxwell Cornet made a fatal error in stoppage time, gifting Napoli a crucial penalty. The in-form Rasmus Hoyland stepped up and converted successfully in the 95th minute, scoring his second goal of the match and his eighth of the season, securing a hard-fought victory for his team.

This result is of paramount importance to Napoli, especially given the team's recent struggles. Following their bitter Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea and a resounding domestic defeat to Juventus, the team desperately needed to regain confidence. This victory lifts Napoli to 49 points, narrowing the gap to just one point behind second-placed Milan and six points behind league leaders Inter, pending the outcome of the upcoming matches between the two rivals.

Regarding absences, Napoli proved their ability to overcome adversity despite a long list of injuries plaguing their ranks, including big names like Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, Cameroonian André-Frank Anguissa, and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, in addition to Scott McTominay, who was forced to leave the match early. The team hopes that their winter signings, such as Brazilian-Tunisian striker Alisson Santos, will bolster their attacking options in the crucial upcoming matches.

In another context within the same round, the match between Torino and Fiorentina witnessed similar excitement, as Fiorentina squandered a victory that was within reach after turning a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead through Manor Solomon and Moise Kean, but Torino snatched a deadly 2-2 draw in stoppage time through Guillermo Maripán, leaving “La Viola” struggling at the bottom of the standings.

In an article imbued with profound professional insights, writer and journalist Turki Al-Daajam raises a crucial issue at the heart of contemporary media work, under the title "Media is Not a Business ." This argument highlights the fundamental differences between creating innovative content and treating media as a commercial commodity subject to profit and loss calculations akin to those of construction companies.

The difference between media messaging and business mindset

Al-Da'jam argues that media is a noble mission and an industry that relies primarily on intellect, creativity, and high professionalism. Words are a trust, images are a message, and analysis is a vision. These elements cannot be treated with the logic of "bidding" or by seeking the lowest price, as happens in the contracting sector. Confusing these two concepts leads to the superficiality of content and empties it of its purposeful meaning, negatively impacting the audience's awareness.

General context and evolution of the media landscape

This vision comes at a time when the media landscape, particularly sports media, is undergoing radical transformations at both the local and regional levels. With the tremendous technological advancements and the rapid flow of information, new challenges have emerged, including the influx of outsiders who treat media platforms as purely commercial ventures, disregarding professional ethics and sound journalistic standards. This historical context underscores the importance of returning to professional principles, where the media was led by specialists who understood the magnitude of their responsibility.

The risks and impact of media "contracting"

Treating the media with a business-oriented mindset leads to several negative consequences, most notably:

• Lack of specialization: Assigning tasks to those who are not qualified based on relationships or lower cost.
• Weak content: Focus on cheap sensationalism instead of in-depth analysis and educational content.
• Decline in credibility: When the goal becomes "getting the project done" in any way possible, accuracy and objectivity disappear.

The importance of specialization in the next stage

This proposal gains added importance given the significant developments taking place in the sports and entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Major international events and hosting of large-scale events demand a professional media landscape that keeps pace with this qualitative shift—a media crafted by "architects of the word," not "contractors." The anticipated impact of adhering to professional standards will enhance the soft power of sports media, transforming it into a genuine partner in development and success, rather than a burden hindering progress.

In conclusion, the proposal emphasizes the need to restore the profession's prestige, respect specialization, and stress that media is a heavy industry that requires thought and awareness, and is not just a commercial deal that ends with handing over the key.