Al Ittihad were crowned Saudi Pro League champions for the 10th time on Sunday night, coming from behind to defeat Al Raed 3-1 in a high-stakes clash at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.
Al Raed struck early when Oumar Gonzalez nodded in a corner in the 9th minute, stunning the home crowd. Things looked shakier for Ittihad as goalkeeper Rajković was forced off injured in the 17th minute, but the champions responded with quality and resolve.
Steven Bergwijn equalized in the 21st minute after a sharp assist from Abdulrahman Al Oboud. The momentum shifted fully before halftime, with a beautifully worked team goal finished by Danilo Pereira in the 40th minute, assisted by Uliyan Al-Hernandez.
Just two minutes into the second half, Al Oboud turned scorer, finishing off a smooth counterattack to make it 3-1. From that moment, Ittihad controlled proceedings and saw out the result with maturity.
The victory confirmed Ittihad's first league title since 2023, marking a major milestone under coach Laurent Blanc. With two games to spare, the club not only celebrates domestic glory but also secures a return to the AFC Champions League Elite.
"After all the ups and downs this season, tonight proves what we're made of," said Blanc post-match.
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