Al Ittihad's AFC Champions League Elite campaign is in serious trouble. A 2-1 home defeat to Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai, reported by Goal, leaves the club with just one point from two group-stage matches and sitting 11th in the West group standings. The result has piled pressure on German coach Jens Fissing, with broadcaster Abdullah Fallata publicly calling for answers and drawing comparisons to Real Madrid's standards, as covered by Goal. The mood around the club is one of frustration and concern.

The defeat came on home soil at Estadio Al-Inma in Jeddah, making it harder to dismiss as a one-off. Questions were also raised about a refereeing decision during the match, though Goal's analysis concluded that Al Ittihad's penalty appeals were not justified despite initial appearances.

Off the pitch, a separate controversy emerged around shared ownership rules in Asian competition, with Goal reporting that the AFC has regulations preventing clubs under common ownership from competing in the same tournament if it compromises integrity.

In the Saudi Pro League, the picture is more stable. Al Ittihad sit fourth with 17 points from eight games, according to the structured sports data, keeping them in contention domestically. Their next test comes on 20 October, an away trip to Al-Ettifaq in the league, where a positive result would help steady the ship before the Asian campaign resumes.