Al Ittihad's X Official AccountThe Elite League (Saudi Under-21 League) is entering the knockout phase after the group stage wrapped up. The play-offs will decide the last four spots in the quarter-finals.
Eight sides who finished fifth to twelfth will contest four two-legged ties, with the four winners advancing to the last eight.
The play-off fixtures get underway on Sunday 12 April. Al-Qadisiyah travel to Al-Majma’ah Sports City Stadium to face Al-Fayha, while Al-Wehda host Al-Fateh at King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Makkah.
On Monday 13 April, Al-Ittihad will travel to King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk to face Neom, while Al-Hazm host Al-Akhdoud at their home ground in Al-Rass.
The return leg begins on Sunday 19 April, with Al-Fateh hosting Al-Wehda at the First Finance Stadium in Al-Ahsa and Al-Ittihad welcoming Neom to their home ground in Jeddah.
The run concludes on Monday 20 April, with Al-Qadisiyah hosting Al-Fayha at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Khobar and Al-Akhdoud welcoming Al-Hazm to Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Najran.
Al-Qadsia head into the fixture against Al-Fayha on a low note, having missed out on a quarter-final berth at the death after a 3-1 loss to Al-Ahli in the last round.
The Eastern outfit had led briefly against Al-Raqi but ultimately suffered its first Elite League defeat in six matches.
That setback handed fourth place, and the final direct quarter-final berth, to Al-Taawoun.
Although Al-Fayha currently occupy twelfth place—the final play-off berth—the hosts are unlikely to find progress straightforward.
Low morale is not their only challenge: Al-Fayha have won four of their last six matches (with one draw and one loss), displaying the kind of form that could extend Al-Qadsia’s slump.
Al-Fayha boast several match-winners, notably striker Moaz Al-Habib, the league’s fifth-leading scorer with 10 goals, and Ammar Al-Khaibari.
Historically, the sides met in November at Al-Safa Club, with the game finishing 2-2.
Al-Fateh, second-best in the Joi Elite League on both attack and defence, meet Al-Wehda in the quarter-final play-off.
They finished the campaign with 42 goals scored—level with Al-Nassr and four behind Al-Hilal—and let in only 21, just two more than Al-Alamy.
Despite these numbers, Al-Fateh finished sixth on 35 points—10 wins, 5 draws, 5 defeats—just two points adrift of fourth-placed Al-Taawoun.
Despite a 6–0 thrashing of Al-Riyadh, Al-Fateh missed automatic quarter-final entry after going four games without a win: two draws against Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, and losses to Al-Adalah and Al-Arabi.
In contrast, Al-Wehda are enjoying one of their best runs of form, having gone unbeaten in their last four matches, drawing with Al-Adalah and Al-Riyadh, and beating Al-Ahli and Al-Arabi.
Thanks to these results, Al-Wehda claimed the final play-off spot, finishing eleventh with 30 points from eight wins, six draws and six defeats.
This will be their first meeting of the current Elite Air League campaign, as neither side faced the other during the group stage.
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The quarter-final play-off pits Al-Ittihad against Neom, with the first leg scheduled for Tabuk and the second in Jeddah.
Al-Ittihad head into the tie on the back of two convincing victories in their final three league outings—7–1 against Al-Bukairiya and 4–1 versus Al-Shabab—although they did suffer a 2–3 loss to Al-Khaleej.
They finished the league phase in seventh place with 34 points, recording 10 wins, four draws and six defeats.
The westerners will look to Ammar Al-Ghamdi, who has 12 goals and sits third in the Saudi U21 scoring charts.
Neom, meanwhile, recorded two victories in their last four Saudi Under-21 League outings—1-0 over Al-Khaleej and 2-0 against Al-Shabab—but also lost 1-2 to Al-Raed and drew 1-1 with Al-Bukairiya in the final round.
Neom, meanwhile, ended the campaign in tenth place with 32 points, thanks to 10 wins, two draws and eight defeats.
This will be their first meeting of the current Joi Elite League season, as the two sides did not lock horns during the league phase.
The final play-off clash will pit Al-Akhdoud against Al-Hazm, two sides that finished adjacent to each other in the standings.
Al-Akhdoud finished eighth in the league phase, collecting 34 points from 10 wins, four draws and six defeats.
Al-Hazm, one point behind in ninth with 33 points, had 10 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats.
Al-Hazm enter the contest with momentum, having won their final two league matches 3–2 against Damak and Al-Najma respectively, then earning a goalless draw with Al-Hilal.
In contrast, Al-Akhdoud ended the league phase in dismal form, going six matches without a win or even a goal. Defeats came against Al-Fateh (0–5), Al-Hilal (0–4), Al-Taawoun (0–2) and Dhamk (0–3), while Al-Jabalain and Al-Najma both earned goalless draws.
This will be their first meeting of the current Elite Air League season, as neither side featured in the league phase.
