Al-Ittihad can take major step toward Saudi Pro League title in top-of-the-table clash against Al-Nassr

Al-Hilal are still digesting their narrow loss to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup and preparing for a huge showdown with fellow Arab giants Al-Ahly of Egypt in Saturday third-place play-off, but they will be keeping more than one eye on events back home. That is because of the huge top-of-the-table clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr in Jeddah on Friday. It is the biggest game of the season so far and Al-Hilal, and surely most neutral fans who want the drama of a genuine title race, want their local rivals Al-Nassr to win.

If Al-Ittihad emerge victorious, then they will take a huge step toward a first title since 2009. A win over Al-Nassr, who dropped down to third on Thursday as Al-Shabab defeated Damac 2-1, will move the Tigers nine points clear of the Riyadh club, and with Al-Nassr then having 10 games left, it would leave the Yellows a lot to do. It would also take Al-Ittihad a massive 16 points ahead of Al-Hilal, and while the defending champions would have two games in hand, it would take a monumental effort to close that gap.

And it would take a major collapse for the leaders who have been relentless. Last week’s 4-0 win at Abha was a ninth victory in succession. It was also the kind of win that brings titles.

The hosts defended stoutly and held out for an hour, but the Jeddah giants stayed patient. There was some frustration but no panic, and once the deadlock was broken there was only going to be one winner. It did not escape anyone’s attention that two of the goals were scored by Abderrazak Hamdallah, whose presence on the pitch adds an extra bucketful of spice to this already fiery clash.