Marcel Gallardo, the Argentine coach of Al-Ittihad’s first football team, has opted to rest Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah and Brazilian Fabiano from the clash against Al-Ahli on Friday, as part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League.
Instead, Gallardo placed Egyptian Ahmed Hegazi and Brazilian Romarinho on the substitutes’ bench.
This move reflects the coach’s keenness to give a breather to the Tigers’ stars ahead of their crucial match against Al-Hilal next Tuesday in the second leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
Al-Hilal secured a 2-0 victory over the Tigers in the first leg held last Tuesday at the King Saud University Stadium, with goals from Serbian striker Aleksandar Metrović and Salem Al-Dawsari.
