The coaching staff of Al-Khaleej Club breathed a sigh of relief after receiving positive news regarding the readiness of the team's key players, as part of their intensive preparations for the upcoming match against Al-Hazm. Al-Khaleej is preparing to host Al-Hazm in a crucial encounter in the 25th round of the Saudi Professional League, a match that will be held at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, amidst high expectations from fans for a victory and three points.

The team's recent group training sessions saw the return of professional players Joshua King and Greek player Fortounis Kostas, who participated actively and fully after a period of forced absence. The duo had undergone intensive treatment and rehabilitation programs to recover from various injuries, which were the main reason for their absence from recent official matches, thus somewhat impacting the team's attacking options.

The return of this duo is of paramount importance to Al-Khaleej at this crucial juncture in the season, as the team seeks to recover from its setback in the previous round. Al-Khaleej suffered a narrow defeat against Al-Ittihad, losing 1-0 in a match where the team displayed great competitiveness despite the loss. The upcoming match against Al-Hazm presents an ideal opportunity to bounce back and return to winning ways, especially since the game will be played at home in front of their fans, providing the players with an extra morale boost.

In terms of the overall competitive landscape, the Roshan Professional League is witnessing unprecedented competition this season, both at the top of the table and in the mid-table. Matches between mid-table teams and direct rivals are considered "six-point matches," as a victory not only grants the winning team three points but also hinders a direct competitor, a fact well understood by Al-Khaleej's coaching staff ahead of their match against Al-Hazm.

Al-Dana fans hope that the return of Joshua King and Fortunis Costas will help solve the goal-scoring drought and increase offensive effectiveness, especially since the remaining stages of the league require concerted efforts and full readiness from all members of the squad to ensure an advanced position befitting the team’s development and the levels it presents in the Saudi League, which has become the focus of the world’s attention.

The Al-Ittihad coaching staff received a huge morale and tactical boost just hours before the highly anticipated Jeddah derby, with the official confirmation that three of the first team's key players are fit and available for selection in the upcoming clash against arch-rivals Al-Ahli. This encounter, part of the 25th round of the Saudi Professional League, will take place at Al-Inma Stadium amidst great anticipation from fans.

Medical and technical reports have confirmed the full readiness of the influential trio: international striker Saleh Al-Shehri, Dutch star Steven Bergwijn, and young player Ahmed Al-Julaidan. The players have rejoined group training sessions after fully recovering from the various injuries they sustained recently, which had sidelined them from previous matches and presented the coach with a challenge in finding suitable replacements.

The importance of the injured players' return and its impact on the derby

The return of this trio is of paramount importance to Al-Ittihad, especially given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League this season. Steven Bergwijn is a valuable asset in attack thanks to his European experience and ability to make a difference in big matches, while Saleh Al-Shehri represents a crucial tactical attacking option, giving the coaching staff great flexibility in diversifying their playing styles to unlock Al-Ahli's defense.

The Jeddah derby always carries a special significance that transcends mere three points; it's a historic struggle for supremacy in the coastal city, and its outcome directly impacts the morale of both fans and players. Al-Ittihad enters this match determined to secure a victory and continue their recent winning streak in domestic and continental competitions, aiming to solidify their position in the league standings and seriously contend for the title.

History of recent encounters and the ambition to repeat them

Looking back at recent history, Al-Ittihad enters the match with high morale, buoyed by their victory in the last encounter between the two teams. The "Tigers" secured a 1-0 win in the previous derby in the league. The team aims to repeat this scenario and reaffirm their dominance, capitalizing on their full squad and the return of their key players to deliver a performance worthy of Saudi football's reputation and rapid development.

In a remarkable development in continental sporting events, the Roshan Professional League clubs participating in the continental event have, in the past few hours, taken serious steps and made an urgent decision regarding the mechanism for holding the Round of 16 matches of the AFC Champions League Elite competition, which is taking place under exceptional circumstances during the current period.

Private and well-informed sources have reported that clubs in the Roshan League have submitted a formal request to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), proposing a change to the format of the upcoming knockout rounds. The sources indicated that the Saudi clubs have requested a single-match knockout system, instead of the usual two-legged format, specifically for the quarter-finals and subsequent rounds, to address the challenges posed by time constraints and security concerns.

The Asian Football Confederation's position and regional circumstances

As of now, the official position of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) remains unclear, as it has yet to make a final decision regarding this request or the final schedule for the Round of 16 matches. This hesitation stems from the AFC's desire to balance its regulations with the exceptional circumstances currently affecting the region.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had previously been forced to issue decisions to postpone and move some matches of Saudi and Iranian clubs in the round of 16 and group stage, attributing this to recent events and geopolitical tensions in Iran, which necessitated taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of sports delegations, players and fans, which is the first criterion that FIFA and the AFC prioritize.

The context of the tournament and the importance of the decision

This edition of the AFC Champions League holds historical significance as it is the first under the new format and name, which aims to raise the technical level of Asian competitions. Saudi clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli) are participating with a host of international stars, making their safety and ensuring the fair and smooth running of the tournament a top priority for these clubs' management.

Observers believe that the Saudi clubs' request for single-round matches could be the ideal solution to avoid the fatigue resulting from frequent travel and the congested fixture schedule in both domestic and continental competitions, especially given that Saudi clubs are competing on multiple fronts. This proposal also recalls the centralized system successfully implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, which proved effective in deciding championships during times of crisis.

The Asian Football Confederation is expected to issue a clarifying statement in the next few days, either adopting the traditional schedule with security guarantees, or approving the Roshan clubs' proposal and amending the tournament system exceptionally for this season.