Al Ittihad are riding a wave of momentum heading into the second month of the Saudi Pro League season, sitting second in the table with 17 points from seven games, just one behind leaders Al Hilal. The turnaround in fortunes is striking given the club's disappointing 2025-26 campaign, when they finished fifth and failed to win a trophy. A 3-1 win at Al-Faisaly on September 11 was the latest evidence of that shift, with Youssef En-Nesyri scoring twice to take his tally to four goals for the season. The Moroccan forward has become a focal point of the attack alongside George Ilenikhena and Steven Bergwijn, who are also on four goals each, giving the side genuine firepower across the front line.

The coaching change has been central to this revival. Jens Fissing replaced Sergio Conceicao in the summer after a difficult spell that Conceicao himself has since acknowledged publicly, admitting things did not go well in Saudi Arabia. Fissing arrived with a strong endorsement from Jurgen Klopp, who reportedly told the club he was a future elite manager. Seven games in, the results support that assessment.

The next test comes quickly. Al Ittihad face Al-Shamal in the AFC Champions League Elite on September 14, before a league clash with Al Hilal on September 17 that could define the early title picture. Midfielder Mokhtar Ali remains sidelined through injury, though the squad has shown enough depth to absorb his absence.