JEDDAH — Al Ittihad ascended to the top of the Saudi Pro League standings at the conclusion of Round 11, following a 2-0 win over Al Fateh. Goals from Fabinho and Houssem Aouar secured the victory, taking advantage of Al Hilal's surprise defeat to Al Khaleej in the same round. This marks Al Ittihad's return to the league summit for the first time since Round 3, when they led on goal difference. The team now holds 30 points, two ahead of Al Hilal, who slipped to second place with 28 points. Al Fateh remains at the bottom of the table with just 5 points. Al Ittihad's triumph came despite the absence of key players. French star Karim Benzema missed his third consecutive match due to injury, while Moussa Diaby was ruled out for eight weeks, as announced by the club. The game, played at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, saw an early disallowed goal by Al Ittihad's Saleh Al-Shehri in the 19th minute. The referee, after consulting VAR, overturned the goal for offside. Al Fateh delivered an unexpectedly strong performance despite their poor recent form and significant absences. However, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area, leaving Al Fateh goalkeeper Sabanos helpless. In the final moments of the match, Houssem Aouar sealed the victory with a second goal in the first minute of stoppage time, ensuring all three points for Al Ittihad. The match drew a lively crowd of 13,000 spectators, reflecting the passionate support for the league leaders.
