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.

The medical staff at Al-Ittihad Saudi Club officially announced the nature of the injury sustained by the team's young right-back, Ahmed Al-Julaidan, after he underwent a series of thorough medical examinations in recent hours. In a statement released Saturday evening, the club explained that scans confirmed the player is suffering from a hamstring injury in his right thigh, necessitating an intensive treatment and rehabilitation program under the supervision of the club's doctor.

This injury confirms Al-Jalidan's absence from the highly anticipated and crucial match between Al-Ittihad and Qatari side Al-Gharafa, scheduled for 9:15 PM next Tuesday, as part of the seventh round of the AFC Champions League group stage. The player sustained the injury during the thrilling Saudi Arabian derby against Al-Nassr on Friday evening, in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, a match characterized by intense physical competition.

In terms of numbers, Al-Jalidan is one of the young names that the technical staff relies on to strengthen the bench and rotate players under the pressure of matches. The (21) year old participated in (23) matches this season with a total of (843) minutes of playing time. Despite not scoring or creating goals, his presence provided additional tactical options for the coach.

The match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Gharafa is of paramount importance to both teams on the continental stage. Al-Ittihad, the two-time AFC Champions League winners (2004 and 2005), are aiming to secure their place in the knockout stages and compete strongly for the title under the new "Elite" format. Al-Ittihad currently sits in sixth place in their group with nine points, a position that qualifies them for the next round, but they are looking to improve their ranking to secure easier opponents in the future. Al-Gharafa, on the other hand, enters the match in a precarious position, languishing in ninth place with six points. They desperately need a win to break into the top eight qualifying spots, making the match a complex tactical and psychological battle in which Al-Ittihad will be without a young defensive asset.

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.