Al Ittihad made history in Saudi football's fiercest rivalry by scoring twice in the opening 22 minutes against Al Nassr-something no team had managed before in their Pro League meetings. The quick start at King Abdullah Sports City caught Al Nassr off guard and set a new mark in this long-running matchup.
The official Saudi Pro League match center confirms that Ilenikhena's brace not only secured victory for Al Ittihad but also ended Al Nassr's perfect start to the 2026/27 season.
Elinichina struck again in the 22nd minute, volleying home a pass from Houssem Aouar. With a 2-0 lead, Al Ittihad forced Al Nassr to chase the game from early on. Angelo Gabriel pulled one back for Al Nassr in the 36th minute, but Al Ittihad held their lead into halftime.
Al Ittihad's first-half numbers backed up their strong start. They held 53.3% of possession and took nine shots, three on target. Al Nassr, despite a lineup featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Kingsley Coman, managed only three attempts in the first half. Both teams were even on shots on target and corners, but Al Ittihad's early goals made the difference.
Prior to this encounter, Al Nassr had a flawless record with 12 points from four matches, while Al Ittihad remained unbeaten but had drawn twice, accumulating 8 points. Following this defeat, Al Nassr lost their sole leadership in the standings, dropping below Al Hilal, who maintained a perfect record.
Manager Jens Wissing's tactics paid off immediately. Al Ittihad's starting lineup, with Predrag Rajkovic in goal and a defense of Ahmed Al Julaidan, Fares Abdi, Hassan Kadesh, and Danilo Pereira, gave Aouar, Dion Lopy, and Mukhtar Ali control in midfield. Up front, Ahmed Al Ghamdi, Steven Bergwijn, and George Elinichina took advantage of Al Nassr's defensive gaps.
For Al Nassr, the first half exposed defensive problems and a lack of cohesion, even with big names on the pitch. Their midfield-Joao Felix, Angelo Gabriel, and Samu Costa-struggled to handle Al Ittihad's pressure. The defense, made up of Salem Al Najdi, Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, and Abdulelah Al Amri, was stretched throughout the half.
Al Ittihad's fast start is more than a statistic. By breaking through so early, they have shifted the momentum in this rivalry. The match showed that tactical discipline and sharp finishing can unsettle even the most talented opponents. Al Ittihad's mix of organization and opportunism delivered a result that will be remembered-and has set a new challenge for the rest of the season.
