Richard Rios forced off after eight minutes as Al-Ittihad prepare for Al Ain

Al-Ittihad midfielder Richard Rios was forced to leave the field injured after only eight minutes of Friday’s Saudi Pro League match against Abha, raising doubts over his availability for next week’s AFC Champions League Elite meeting with Al Ain.

The Colombia international went down after a strong challenge from an Abha player during the opening stages of the game. Rios appeared to be in considerable pain as he received treatment on the pitch.

He was unable to continue and left the field in tears, struggling to walk normally. The injury prompted an early change from Al-Ittihad manager Jens Wissing, who brought on Ahmed Al-Ghamdi in place of the midfielder.

The incident came at a difficult time for Al-Ittihad, who are due to face Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates on Monday, 02 November 2026, in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Rios has become a significant part of the Al-Ittihad midfield, and his departure leaves the coaching staff waiting for a clearer assessment of the injury before deciding whether he can feature in the continental fixture.

The club is expected to establish the nature and severity of the problem through medical examinations in the coming hours. Those tests will also determine the expected length of Rios’ absence and whether he has any chance of recovering in time to face Al Ain.

Al-Ittihad’s match against Abha was their fixture in the 12th round of the Saudi Pro League. The early injury added to the team’s immediate concerns as they attempted to complete the domestic game while also preparing for an important Asian challenge.