Vissing’s tactical switch puts Al-Ittihad in control as Ronaldo struggles to influence Saudi Clasico

Yens Vissing caught Al Nassr and Ange Postecoglou off guard with an aggressive tactical plan that helped Al-Ittihad take control of the Saudi Clasico, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s limited contribution to the defensive press left his side exposed.

Most predictions had suggested Al-Ittihad would approach the match cautiously, retreat into its own half and rely on counter-attacks against an Al Nassr side packed with dangerous attacking players. Instead, Vissing instructed his team to press intensely from the opening minutes and prevent their opponents from building attacks in their usual way.

Al-Ittihad did more than simply close down the player in possession. The team blocked passing routes across the pitch, won a large number of individual duels and recovered the ball in advanced areas.

The players operated as a compact unit, pressing immediately whenever possession was lost. Steven Bergwijn and Hamed Al-Ghamdi took up advanced positions before moving inside, making it difficult for Al Nassr to pass cleanly from one line to the next. For almost the first 22 minutes, Al Nassr struggled to play out from the back.

That pressure produced an early reward when George Ilenikhena scored in the fourth minute. The goal was not an isolated moment but a direct consequence of Al-Ittihad’s superiority from the start.

Ilenikhena found space behind the Al Nassr defence and took advantage of the high position of the back line as the entire team pushed forward. His finish gave Al-Ittihad an early advantage and forced their opponents to change their approach.

The Nigeria international was ideally suited to Vissing’s plan. His ability to run beyond defenders and attack open space gave Al-Ittihad a clear route through an advanced defence.

Ilenikhena struck again in the 22nd minute with an outstanding finish, completing the 10th brace of his career. The double also highlighted how effectively Vissing had used the striker’s strengths against an Al Nassr back line playing high up the pitch.

Al-Ittihad’s attacking threat was not based only on direct balls. Their control of midfield made it easier to reach the final third. Lupi and Mukhtar established a strong presence in the central areas, while Bergwijn and Al-Ghamdi moved inside to create numerical advantages. That movement separated Al Nassr’s lines and reduced the space available for them to construct organised attacks.

Ronaldo’s defensive role becomes a problem

One of Al Nassr’s main tactical difficulties involved Ronaldo. The issue was not simply his attacking output, but the effect his role had on the team’s overall pressing structure.

Ronaldo was unable to apply sustained pressure to Al-Ittihad’s defenders. That gave Danilo Pereira, in particular, more time and space to receive the ball and begin attacks from deep. On several occasions, Al-Ittihad could start their moves calmly before progressing into the areas they wanted without facing the pressure Al Nassr needed to force mistakes.

In tactical terms, Ronaldo appeared “present but absent”. His presence gave Al Nassr one of the most dangerous forwards in world football, but when Al-Ittihad had the ball in defence, his limited pressure made Al Nassr look as though it had one fewer player in the press.

The problem was not Ronaldo’s quality or his ability to score. Rather, the match demanded a continuous collective press, something he could not provide to the required level.

Postecoglou could have responded by changing the shape of the press or reducing the gaps between his lines, but Al Nassr did not find the right solution quickly enough. By then, Al-Ittihad had already scored twice.

Vissing also made excellent use of the space behind Al Nassr’s advanced full-backs. Whenever Al-Ittihad won the ball, his players looked to deliver passes behind them, creating large areas for quick transitions from defence into attack.

After about 30 minutes, Al Nassr gradually regained its balance. The visitors became better at resisting the pressure, kept possession for longer and began to reach the attacking third more regularly.

That improvement was reflected on the scoresheet when Angelo reduced the deficit in the 36th minute. His goal gave Al Nassr a significant lift and made the contest more complicated before half-time.

The strike also warned that maintaining the same level of pressure throughout the match could leave Al-Ittihad vulnerable. Vissing responded by changing his approach after the interval rather than continuing to take unnecessary risks.

Al-Ittihad dropped deeper, defended in a more compact block and focused on counter-attacks into the spaces Al Nassr would leave while chasing an equaliser. The second half therefore developed into a very different contest, with Al Nassr having most of the initiative, possession and pressure.

Vissing’s calculation was straightforward: trailing by one goal, Al Nassr would commit more players forward, creating opportunities for Al-Ittihad to attack on the break without having to gamble themselves.

In the closing stages, Vissing also introduced Youssef En-Nesyri and placed greater emphasis on crosses and balls into the penalty area. The Morocco striker was a logical choice for that situation, offering an aerial threat inside the box as Al-Ittihad dealt with sustained pressure.

He also provided an additional outlet for direct passes and counter-attacks, particularly as the spaces behind Al Nassr’s defence became larger. By leaving possession to Al Nassr and relying on transitions late on, Vissing’s young side protected its advantage and deservedly secured victory.