Al Ittihad are riding a wave of confidence after stringing together three wins across two competitions, and the performances under German coach Jens Pressing are starting to convince observers that the club can mount a serious Saudi Pro League title challenge this season. Back-to-back league wins against Al Ittifaq (4-1) and Al Diriyah (2-0) have lifted the club to fourth in the table with 23 points from 10 games, according to match reports and standings data. The form has been backed up in Asia, where the club came from behind to beat Uzbek side Neftchi Fargona 2-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite, with Youssef En-Nesyri scoring a stoppage-time winner to seal the points, as reported by Goal.

En-Nesyri is central to the attacking threat. The Moroccan striker has scored seven league goals this season and is second in the Pro League scoring charts, per the latest standings. There is also speculation that Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi is considering recalling him to the national squad for November's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which would represent a significant personal boost, as reported by Goal.

The club's next test comes on October 30 away at Abha in the Saudi Pro League, a fixture that offers a chance to maintain the pressure on the teams above them. The trajectory is positive, but the squad's consistency over a long season will determine whether this run translates into a genuine title bid.