Al-Ittihad choose direct Doha route to ease travel before AFC Champions League Elite opener

Al-Ittihad will not return to Jeddah after Friday’s Saudi Pro League meeting with Al-Faisaly, instead travelling directly from Riyadh to Doha ahead of their AFC Champions League Elite campaign.

The decision, reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, is intended to reduce the strain of a congested schedule and give the players as much recovery time as possible. The entire journey plan falls within a period of no more than 72 hours.

Al-Ittihad are due to face Al-Faisaly at their opponents’ stadium in Al Majma’ah on Friday evening. They will then travel to Qatar to play Al-Shamal on the following Monday in their opening match of the new AFC Champions League Elite competition.

The squad will leave Jeddah for Riyadh on Thursday before continuing by bus to Al Majma’ah for the league fixture. After the final whistle, the team will return to Riyadh and immediately depart for Doha, avoiding a further journey back to Jeddah.

The arrangement has been made by the club’s administrative and technical departments as they seek to limit the physical demands placed on the squad. In a short period, the players will otherwise have to move between Riyadh, Al Majma’ah and Doha, increasing the risk of fatigue.

The club hopes the revised itinerary will allow the team to arrive in Doha in the best possible physical condition before beginning its continental campaign against Al-Shamal on Monday.

The decision also reflects the demands facing Vising’s side at the start of a period in which domestic and continental commitments are closely scheduled. By remaining in Riyadh after the Al-Faisaly match and travelling onwards from there, Al-Ittihad will avoid an additional return trip and reduce the number of hours spent on the road.

Al-Ittihad’s first task remains Friday’s Saudi Pro League fixture in Al Majma’ah. Once that match is complete, the squad will begin its direct journey to Qatar, with the focus then turning to the club’s first match in the new AFC Champions League Elite season.