Al-Ittihad reshape attack as Al-Qadsiah leave new signing Tijjani Reijnders out

Al-Ittihad head coach Jens Wissing has made a significant change to his attacking line-up for Friday’s Roshn Saudi League meeting with Al-Qadsiah, selecting a two-man forward partnership for the first time this season.

The visitors face Al-Qadsiah at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam in the second round of the competition, with Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri set to start alongside Nigeria forward George Ilenikhena.

The pair will be supported by Netherlands winger Steven Bergwijn and Algeria playmaker Houssem Aouar as Wissing looks to alter his team’s approach for the fixture.

The change comes with France winger Moussa Diaby absent from the Al-Ittihad squad for a second successive match. Diaby has been linked with a move to German club Bayer Leverkusen during the current summer transfer window.

Wissing has also handed a starting place to new signing Rakan Al-Kaabi, who joined Al-Ittihad from Al-Fayha. He will line up in midfield alongside Senegal international Dion Lopy, while Farhah Al-Shamrani has been named among the substitutes.

There is another adjustment in defence, where Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic will continue at right-back in the absence of Mahند Al-Shanqiti. Ahmed Al-Jalidan is also on the bench.

Simic will operate alongside left-back Fares Abdi and centre-backs Hassan Kadesh and Cameroon defender Stefan Keller. Portugal international Danilo Pereira is unavailable after being sent off in Al-Ittihad’s opening match against Al-Kholood.

Al-Ittihad began the season with a 1-1 draw against Al-Kholood and sit ninth in the table with one point. Al-Qadsiah, meanwhile, are fifth on three points after opening their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Al-Shabab.

For Al-Qadsiah, manager Brendan Rodgers has opted not to start Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who joined the club from Manchester City during the summer transfer window. The new arrival will begin the match on the substitutes’ bench.

Rodgers has instead selected Mexico forward Julian Quinones and Italy striker Mateo Retegui as his central attacking pairing. They are expected to receive support from midfielders Musab Al-Juwayr and Portugal international Otavio.

The decision to leave Reijnders out is one of the main talking points before kick-off, given the midfielder’s recent arrival and profile. Al-Qadsiah will nevertheless begin the match with the confidence of a winning start, while Al-Ittihad are seeking their first victory of the campaign after being held by Al-Kholood.

The match is the second league fixture for both sides this season and takes place at Al-Qadsiah’s Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.