Al Ittihad are in a strong position heading into the international break, sitting second in the Saudi Pro League with 17 points from seven matches, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal. That gap makes the upcoming away fixture at Al Hilal on October 10 at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium one of the most significant matches of the early season, with the title race already taking shape at the top.

The club's domestic form has been convincing. Four wins and a draw from their last five league outings, including a notable 2-1 victory over Al Nassr, show a team with genuine momentum and the quality to beat direct rivals. Their only recent blemish came in the AFC Champions League Elite, where they drew 1-1 with Al-Shamal, a result that raised questions about consistency across competitions without derailing their overall trajectory.

Off the pitch, attention has turned to young striker Ammar Al-Ghamdi, who has scored six goals in five matches for the under-21 side this season, including a hat-trick against Al-Faisaly. With 16 goals in the previous campaign, the 21-year-old is generating real pressure on head coach Jens Weissflog to hand him a first-team opportunity. The club also faces a legal dispute with Al-Ettifaq and ongoing acquisition talks, adding off-field noise during a period when focus on the pitch matters most.