Al Ittihad's continental campaign is in serious trouble. A 2-1 home defeat to Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite leaves the club with a single point from their opening two group-stage matches, sitting 11th in the West group standings. The loss, at Estadio Al-Inma in Jeddah, has piled pressure on German head coach Jens Fissening, whose methods and suitability for the role are now being openly questioned by Saudi media figures. Broadcaster Abdullah Fallata has been among the most vocal critics, publicly doubting whether Fissening has the tools to turn results around, and drawing comparisons to the standards set by city rivals Al Hilal in Asian competition.

Off the pitch, a separate concern emerged around the legality of Saudi clubs with shared ownership structures competing in the same AFC tournament, though the full implications for Al Ittihad remain unclear. Reports also indicate that midfielder Mohammed Al-Julaidan's availability is complicating Fissening's planning ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Domestically, the picture is more stable. Al Ittihad sit fourth in the Saudi Pro League with 17 points from eight games, two behind third-placed Al Nassr. Their next test comes on 20 October, an away trip to Al-Ettifaq at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, a match that offers a chance to build momentum in the league even as their Asian hopes grow increasingly fragile.