Sports

Conceição comments on Al-Ittihad's victory over Al-Khaleej in the Roshan League

Statements by Al-Ittihad coach Sergio Conceicao after the 1-0 victory over Al-Khaleej in the Roshan League, and his talk about the return of Al-Aboud, the brilliance of Metai, and the importance of the three points in the league race.

Published

39 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Saudi Arabia News - saudinews50

Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, manager of Al-Ittihad, expressed his satisfaction with his team's 1-0 victory over Al-Khaleej in their match in the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League. He emphasized that securing three points at this crucial stage of the season was the primary objective, even if the team didn't display its usual full attacking prowess.

Tactical realism is the motto of this phase

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Conceição admitted that the game lacked high technical quality and a fast pace from both sides, noting the scarcity of clear-cut scoring opportunities throughout the match. The Portuguese coach explained that modern football, especially in highly competitive leagues like the Saudi League, sometimes prioritizes results over aesthetics, particularly against defensively organized opponents. He added that Al-Ittihad managed to achieve this by keeping a clean sheet and securing the winning goal.

The return of the stars and the deployment of the winning cards

Regarding individual players, Conceição highlighted the situation of Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, describing him as a strategic asset to the Tigers' squad. The coach confirmed that Al-Aboud, as an international player with high technical abilities, had undergone an intensive and specialized rehabilitation program recently to ensure his full readiness, emphasizing that the team desperately needs his services and experience in the upcoming crucial matches.

The coach also took the opportunity to praise Mario Mitaël's tactical flexibility, citing his successful experience on the wing during the previous match against Al Sadd. Conceição explained that Mitaël's tactical intelligence provides the coaching staff with additional solutions and diverse options on the field, expressing his complete satisfaction with the player's performances and his ability to adapt to the demands of different matches.

The importance of winning in the context of competition

This result is particularly significant given the overall context of the Saudi Professional League, where the title race is fiercely contested. Winning in the later rounds (such as round 24) is crucial for maintaining a title challenge or securing a place in continental competitions. Historically, Al-Ittihad has been known for its champion mentality, enabling it to win difficult and complex matches even when the team isn't at its best. This reflects the tactical and mental maturity of both the players and the coaching staff.

Conceição concluded his remarks by emphasizing that performance evaluation is subject to the circumstances of each individual match, noting that the team had performed better in previous encounters, but that the victory against a tough competitor like Al-Khaleej remains a significant moral and points gain that enhances the team’s confidence in its journey towards achieving its seasonal goals.

Sports

Ben Zekri: Bono saved Al Hilal, and defensive errors caused Al Shabab's loss

Youth coach Noureddine Ben Zekri stated that Yassine Bounou deserved the best player award for saving Al Hilal, pointing out that defensive errors caused the loss in the Roshan League.

Published

27 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Saudi Arabia News - saudinews50

Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri, manager of Al-Shabab FC, made strong statements following his team's match against Al-Hilal in the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League, held at Al-Shabab's stadium in Riyadh. Benzekri highlighted the tactical details that decided the match, while also praising his opponent's performance, particularly that of their goalkeeper.

In the press conference that followed the match, Ben Zekri said clearly: "We made some defensive mistakes that cost us a lot, but I am very happy with the fighting spirit and technical performance shown by my players. We succeeded in creating many scoring opportunities, and we played a great match worthy of the club's name. We deserved a better result if we hadn't lost due to our own mistakes.".

The Al-Shabab coach touched on the main turning point in the match from his point of view, pointing to the brilliance of the Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, saying: “Mohammed Al-Shuwairikh is injured and we could not include him, and I think that Bounou is the one who deserves the best player award in the match without a doubt. He saved Al-Hilal from certain goals that would have given us a better result and turned the balance of the match.”.

The context of the competition and the impact of the Riyadh derby

These statements come amidst the long-standing rivalry between Riyadh's two giants, with matches between Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal always attracting widespread public and media attention. Ben Zekri's comments reflect the competitive spirit Al-Shabab displayed despite the points difference in the league standings, confirming that Riyadh derbies are not always predictable, but rather determined by the details of the 90 minutes.

Yassine Bounou’s brilliance demonstrates the high technical value that international professionals have added to the Saudi Roshan League, where the goalkeeper position has become a crucial factor in bringing points to the big teams, which is what Ben Zekri implicitly indicated when he said that the difference was in the decisive saves that prevented Al Shabab from coming back.

Defensive errors and future work

Regarding the nature of the goals his team conceded, Ben Zekri continued his analysis, saying, "Al-Hilal's goals in the first half weren't due to complex tactical decisions; rather, they all resulted from direct errors by our defense." This statement highlights the critical need to work on defensive organization and mental focus among the players in big matches.

The Algerian coach concluded his remarks with a forward-looking perspective on his work with the team, saying, "We've made many changes to the squad since our arrival, but we need more time for tactical work so the players can fully grasp and implement it on the pitch." These words confirm that Ben Zekri's project with Al-Shabab is still under development, and that achieving the desired results requires patience and consistency to address the defensive lapses that surfaced against the league leaders.

Sports

Al-Shahri: The expulsion of an Indian player caused Al-Ettifaq's loss to Al-Hazm in the Roshan League

Al-Ettifaq coach Saad Al-Shehri confirms that Abdulbasit Hindi’s expulsion was the turning point in the 1-3 loss to Al-Hazm in the 24th round of the Saudi Roshan League, pointing out the difficulty of the numerical disadvantage.

Published

27 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Saudi Arabia News - saudinews50

In a dramatic night of football in the Saudi Professional League, Saad Al-Shehri, the manager of Al-Ettifaq, expressed his deep disappointment following his team's crushing 3-1 defeat to Al-Hazm. Al-Shehri stated that the match had been progressing according to plan until the red card proved to be the turning point that completely changed the course of the game.

Details of the press conference and Al-Shahri's statements

During the post-match press conference following the thrilling encounter, Al-Shehri explained that Al-Dahna entered the match with high focus and a clear desire to secure the three points, which was reflected in their early opening goal. However, the match took a completely different turn after defender Abdulbasit Hindi received a red card, followed by Al-Hazm conceding an equalizer. This gave Al-Hazm a huge morale boost, enabling them to regain their composure and stage a remarkable comeback.

Al-Shehri said with a tone full of regret: “We congratulate Al-Hazm Club on this victory. We started the match with a distinctive tactical approach and succeeded in taking the lead, but after the sending-off and conceding the equalizer, we gave the opponent spaces and the opportunity to come back. We did not handle the pressure and some decisions on the pitch well, and in the end we lost the match and the points.”.

The impact of expulsion and the challenges of numerical shortages

The Al-Ettifaq coach specifically addressed the incident of defender Abdulbasit Hindi's expulsion, describing the decision as ill-advised and having a direct and harsh impact on the team's defensive and offensive systems. He pointed out that playing with a numerical disadvantage in a strong and competitive league like the Roshan League is one of the most difficult challenges any coaching staff can face, as it forces the coach to completely change his strategy to try and plug the gaps.

Al-Shehri added: “The decision to send off Abdulbasit Hindi was extremely difficult and affected us greatly both technically and physically. We always aspire to complete the match with our full squad, because a red card puts the coach and players in front of a great challenge due to the drain on their energy and focus. We hope to be more successful and wise in our decisions during the upcoming matches to rectify the situation.”.

The teams' positions in the standings and the importance of winning

This match comes as part of the 24th round of the league, a crucial stage that will determine the shape of the competition, both in the top four and in the relegation zone. Al-Hazm secured a valuable victory on Friday evening, raising their points tally to 28 and climbing to 10th place, taking a significant step away from the danger zone. This victory underscores the importance of their chances of remaining in the top flight.

In contrast, Al-Ettifaq’s tally remains frozen at 38 points in seventh place, a result that may complicate the team’s calculations in competing for the qualifying spots for continental championships or improving its position in the standings, which puts additional pressure on the technical staff and players to compensate in the upcoming rounds and restore the tone of victories to satisfy Al-Ettifaq fans.

Sports

Today's match schedule, Saturday 28-2-2026, in all leagues

Check out today's match schedule, Saturday, February 28, 2026, in the Russian Premier League and other European leagues. The Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund clash, and Al-Nassr vs. Liverpool vs. Barcelona matches, all times listed in Mecca time.

Published

1 hour ago

February 28, 2026

Saudi Arabia News - saudinews50

Football fans around the world will be glued to their television screens this Saturday, February 28, 2026, for a packed schedule of exciting and competitive matches across various international and local stadiums. This detailed report from Al-Midan Al-Riyadi (The Sports Arena) outlines today's fixtures, highlighting the intense battles in the final stretch of the football season as teams vie for titles and qualification spots for continental championships.

The Saudi Roshan League: A Clash of Stars

In Saudi Arabia, the Roshan Professional League continues to attract attention thanks to its tremendous development in recent years and its ability to draw in some of the brightest stars in football. Today's round features several exciting matches, most notably Al-Nassr's away game against Al-Fayha, where the "Global" team will be looking to secure three points to maintain their lead in the title race. The match between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Taawoun also stands out as one of the strongest fixtures of the round, given the closely matched skill levels of both teams.

What is remarkable about today’s match schedule is the appearance of clubs like “Neom” and “Al-Najma”, which reflects the great sporting movement and the expansion of the scope of competition to include new regions and ambitious clubs seeking to prove their presence among the big clubs, as Neom faces its counterpart Al-Kholoud, while Al-Najma meets Al-Akhdoud.

The German Clasico: The Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich showdown

On the European stage, the German Bundesliga steals the spotlight with the "Der Klassiker," the clash between arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Historically, this match is considered the most important in German football, often determining the league title race. Fans are in for a high-caliber football spectacle at 8:30 PM, promising speed, physicality, and tactical brilliance.

The excitement of the Premier League and La Liga

In the English Premier League, considered the strongest league in the world, Manchester City faces a tough test against Leeds United, while Liverpool hosts West Ham at Anfield in a highly anticipated match. In Spain, Barcelona aims to continue its strong performances when it takes on Villarreal, nicknamed the "Yellow Submarine," while Atlético Madrid travels to face Real Oviedo.