AFC Champions League Elite, West Region, matchday 4 at the King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, 2 November 2026
Result
Al Ain were clinical in Jeddah against Al-Ittihad, winning 4–1 to make it four wins from four in the league stage. They led 2–0 at half-time, went 3–1 up within five minutes of Al-Ittihad’s goal, and sealed it with a late penalty. They now have 12 points and lead the West Region; Al-Ittihad stay on four points, in the bottom half of the table.
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As It Happened
- 16′: Kaku put Al Ain ahead, finishing from the byline after Predrag Rajkovic saved Giorgios Giakoumakis’s header.
- 42′: Rafael Rodrigues doubled the lead with a volleyed cross that Rajkovic misjudged, from a move created by Kaku.
- 53′: Marwan Al-Sahafi pulled one back for Al-Ittihad, running in behind Rodrigues.
- 58′: Own goal. Houssine Rahimi’s cross from the right was deflected in by Jan-Carlo Simic.
- 90′: Matias Palacios converted a penalty after substitute Muath Faqihi fouled Baba Bello Ilou.
Why It Happened
Jens Wissing switched to a 5–3–2 to match Al Ain’s, and put the winger Al-Sahafi at right wing-back. That choice cost Al-Ittihad dearly: the first two Al Ain goals both came from the right half-space Al-Sahafi was covering, and the third came down the same side. His goal showed the upside, but Al Ain restored a two-goal gap within five minutes, and Al-Ittihad never threatened to get back level.
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Wissing’s team also looked blunt going forward. Youssef En-Nesyri and Steven Bergwijn started up front, while George Ilenikhena stayed on the bench until the 67th minute, after the third goal. By then, the game had gone.
The Context is Critical
This was Al Ain’s second thrashing of a Saudi side this campaign: they beat Al-Nassr 4–0 on the opening matchday. Al-Ittihad had one point from their first two games and won their first on last week’s late En-Nesyri free-kick, but a 1–1 league draw with bottom-placed Abha on Friday hinted that the recovery was fragile. They sit on four points with four games left, and only the top eight progress.
Crucial Takeaways
- Al Ain look like genuine contenders. Four wins from four, including a 4–0 and a 4–1 against two of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs.
- Al-Ittihad’s margin for error is gone. Four points from four games, with only the top eight going through, leaves them needing a strong run in the remaining four.
- The tactical gamble failed. Mirroring the opponent’s shape with a player out of position is a risk that Al Ain exploited from the start.
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