Rivals meet in top-of-table clash of contrasting title strategies

Of course, matches between Al Ittihad and Al Nassr always matter.

How can they not when two of the biggest clubs in the Roshn Saudi League go head-to-head?

But when those two teams sit first and second in the table heading into the round, and are yet to taste defeat, well, the stakes feel that little bit higher.

It might only be Matchweek 4 of the 2025-26 RSL, but with the clubs from Jeddah and Riyadh setting the early pace this campaign, Friday’s key clash at Alinma Stadium comes around as something of an early title-shaper.

And what is so fascinating is the contrasting ways in which the two Saudi giants have set about their expected championship challenge this season.

As defending champions, Al Ittihad have opted for stability over change, keeping together the core of their title-winning squad in a bid to retain the top-flight trophy.

Manager Laurent Blanc resisted the urge to drastically freshen his team, instead placing faith in that the fire still burns bright inside the side that stormed their way to the RSL crown last term.

“Last season, we built a title-winning team,” Blanc, who lifted the league crown on debut, said earlier this month. “The focus now is on keeping that core together, while adding the right players to ensure continued success.”

On early evidence, his approach has been justified – even if the sense is that Al Ittihad have yet to truly fire.

Karim Benzema and Steven Bergwijn have three goals apiece – and the former played only on the opening day – while Fabinho and N’Golo Kante have been typically imperious in midfield.

To the point, not even the absence of captain Benzema and goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic in their most recent league outing - an injury-time, 1-0 win at Al Najmah thanks to Kante's late, late intervention - could halt their start to the season.

With the majority of pieces in place since last term, there is still much more to come from Al Ittihad. On the other side of the coin, however, is Al Nassr.

After falling short in each of the past two seasons – they finished second and then third - the capital club decided this summer that wholesale change was needed. So, while Al Ittihad’s off-season was characterised by maintaining the status quo, at Al Nassr there was never a dull moment.

After signing a new two-year contract, Cristiano Ronaldo was influential in helping shape a fresh direction for the 2018-19 RSL champions.

With manager Stefano Pioli returning to Europe, Al Hilal’s title-winning Jorge Jesus was tempted to cross the fierce Riyadh divide. It was a sign of how serious Al Nassr were about bringing success to the club this season.

Aymeric Laporte returned to Spain, Jhon Duran was loaned to Turkiye’s Fenerbahce, while Otavio left late in the window to join Al Qadsiah.

Jesus wanted a different profile of player to suit his style, so in came Inigo Martinez in defence, winger Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich, and the prodigiously talented Joao Felix.

Domestically, Saudi No.1 Nawaf Al Aqidi returned from a loan spell at Al Fateh, while Abdulelah Al Amri did likewise from Al Ittihad. In new local recruits, the exciting Abdulmalik Al Jaber and Saad Al Nasser also joined the Riyadh revolution, from FK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo and Al Taawoun, respectively.

Almost overnight, Al Nassr had been transformed. And it’s showing in their results on the pitch.

In the league, they not only have a perfect three wins from three - Al Ittihad do, too - but they also boasted the best attacking and defensive record after the opening three rounds, with 12 goals scored and only one conceded.

That form has carried over, as well, to continental and domestic cup competitions, with a 5-0 triumph against Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol in their opening fixture of the AFC Champions League Two. Then, earlier this week, Al Nassr put four unanswered past Jeddah FC in the King’s Cup last 32.

All in, their record since the 2025-26 RSL kicked off reads: five games, five wins, 21 goals scored and one conceded. It is imperious, and imposing, form.

In the RSL, Joao Felix has five goals and an assist to his name already, and Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down his scoring – he is gunning for a third successive golden boot – with three goals in as many games.

Meanwhile, Coman and Mane could be the league’s most threatening wide duo, combining for three goals and four assists already.

Al Nassr’s approach seems straightforward: they are going on the offensive in their quest for silverware, just as Jesus’ Al Hilal side did in 2023-24. Back then, they not only went undefeated but also broke through the 100-goal barrier during a record-breaking campaign.

Can the Al Ittihad defence, which was one of the best in the league last season, withstand the onslaught from the dynamic Al Nassr attack on Friday night in Jeddah? It appears that's battle from which this game will be won. No one has been able to keep Al Nassr at bay thus far.

So, not only will that contest within the contest help decide this mouth-watering match-up, but it will also offer an early indication as to which pre-season pathway might ultimately trump the other in what's sure to be a gripping title race.

Will it be Al Ittihad’s stability? Or Al Nassr’s transformation?