Al-Ittihad turn to Steven Bergwijn in bid to revive Asian campaign

Al-Ittihad will welcome back Steven Bergwijn for their AFC Champions League Elite meeting with Uzbek side Neftchi on Monday, as they look for their first victory in this season’s competition.

The Saudi club will travel to Neftchi’s ground for the third round of the league stage, having taken only one point from their opening two matches.

According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, Netherlands winger Bergwijn has been included in Al-Ittihad’s squad after recovering from an intestinal inflammation that had kept him out of their most recent domestic fixture.

Bergwijn missed Friday’s match against Al-Diriyah, but Al-Ittihad secured a 2-0 victory in the 11th round of the Saudi Pro League. His return provides a significant boost for a side still searching for consistency in Asia.

Al-Ittihad, known as the Tigers, began their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a 1-1 draw against Qatar’s Al-Shamal. They then suffered a 2-1 defeat by UAE club Shabab Al Ahli at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah.

Those results have left the Jeddah-based club 11th in the league-stage standings with one point. Neftchi are seventh on three points, making Monday’s meeting particularly important for Al-Ittihad as they attempt to move up the table.

The club’s immediate priority is to turn their improved domestic result into a first Asian win of the campaign. Bergwijn’s availability gives manager Laurent Blanc another attacking option as Al-Ittihad seek to recover from their difficult start in the competition.