Only a handful of matches in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) run juice like the Saudi Clasico, with Al-Ittihad, the oldest surviving football club in the country, and Al-Hilal, the most decorated team in the kingdom. I had the chance to attend this rivalry on the day of the Saudi Foundation celebrated each year on February 22. The Tigers, Al-Ittihad, represent the port city of Jeddah, while the Blue waves, al-Hilal, are based more than 1000 km in Riyadh, the capital of the Saudi kingdom.
“We (Jeddah) are for the people. They (Riyadh) represent the elites,” said Nawaf, a fan of Ittihad who works as a security guard.
These feelings were taken up by each fan of Ittihad that I met.
“Hilal is like Real Madrid. We gain everything here, so they are jealous of us,” said a member of the Al-Hilal Ultras, who chose not to reveal his identity.
The rivalry between Ittihad and Hilal is perhaps not as historic as the old derby company between the Scottish Giants Rangers and Celtic, but for the kingdom fans, that’s all and more.
It would be necessary to return to 1962 for the very first meeting between these two parties. Their rivalry is built on history, success, passion and civic pride between two competing cities.
They are the first and second for the number of Saudi titles won; The total of 18 of Al Hilal is double that of Ittihad.
Even in Asia, Hilal and Ittihad are the only Saudi clubs to raise the coveted title of the AFC Champions League. While the blue waves again have double the trophies of their Jeddah counterparts, Al Ittihad can claim that something that Al Hilal has never succeeded – the consecutive Triumphs of AFC in Asian Champions League.
It is only rarely that the Saudi clasico is a non-record, and these days, the shock presents some of the most decorated players at any time in its history. The game was even more a tab this time. The Hilal champions dragged Ittihad leaders by only four points before the match.
More than three hours before the first kick of the match, home fans started to enter the 63,079 places, chanting their team’s song. And, while twilight settles down, itinerant fans also joined them.
The kick -off was delayed due to a conflict of time with the Saudi cup, the most expensive horse race in the world.
Inside the stadium, fans of Ittihad and Hilal sat side by side to offer Maghrib and Isha prayers.
Al-Ittihad fans roared in unison while the winner of Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema, who carries the captain’s armband, released his party in the middle. In a tribute to Kendrick Lamar’s Dissus track on Drake, fans of the house displayed a fascinating tifo “not like” as a jibe to the itinerant team and their fans.
The Ultras Aways retaliated with a tribute to their own tribute. Their tifo presented a portrait of their star striker Alexander Mitrovic, missing the match due to an injury.
After the pre-match routines and hand handles, Ittihad players gathered in front of their fans behind the goal of Predrag Rajkovic.
Regarding action on the field, it was a game of two halves. Hilal dictated the first procedures, rightly taking the lead in the 23rd minute by Marcos Leonardo.
But that was all al-Ittihad after this point. Hassan Kadesh equalized six minutes later, returning home in a routine corner. Steven Bergwijn finished the reversal on half-time.
In the second half, Hilal was not up to the hosts. Bergwijn in good shape was again on the target, marking only six minutes after restarting. Club captain Benzema then finished the rout, marking four minutes before the end of the regulatory time.
Although Al-Ittihad may have taken the rights to boast, it was surely not the end when a long season extends.
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(Tagstotranslate) al-ittihad saudi arabian club
