Al Ittihad resurgence faces another test at Al Wahda in 2019 AFC Champions League

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • (Twitter/@ittihad).

    Clubs in contrasting mood meet at Al Nahyan Stadium on Monday when the UAE’s Al Wahda host resurgent Saudi Arabians Al Ittihad in the 2019 AFC Champions League.

    The visitors have been rejuvenated by last month’s decision to ditch ex-West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic and rehire Jose Luis Sierra. A three-match unbeaten run has lifted them out of the direct drop zone in the Saudi Professional League, plus humiliate Qatar’s Al Rayyan with a 5-1 humbling when Group B got under way in the continental event.

    In contrast, the Clarets’ mixed recent results continued with last week’s 2-0 defeat at Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent.

    Here are the talking points:

    TESTING THE SIERRA EFFECT

    Sierra’s swiftness in lifting the cloud that hung over Ittihad has been startling.

    The man cast aside last summer – in spite of two trophies in two seasons in charge – had watched from afar as one of the Kingdom’s grandees careered towards a first relegation in 92 years of existence.

    His gift has been to impart positivity amid a nightmare period. Be it through adding an unforeseen attacking edge to Bilic’s 4-2-3-1 formation, or finally getting winter buy Aleksandar Prijovic – not present in the UAE – to break his drought with a brace in Friday’s energising 2-0 victory against Al Feyha.

    Now comes another test. Is this spell just the fabled ‘new manager bounce’, or something else entirely?

    WHICH WAHDA WILL WE SEE?

    Wahda’s recent run tells you everything about their miserable 2018/19.

    A six-match streak of alternative wins and losses stretches back to February 5’s 4-2 win at promoted Ittihad Kalba in the Arabian Gulf League. Their distant fifth place is utterly justified.

    Most recently, they were well beaten by Lokomotiv. Any realistic hope of earning a return to the knockouts for the first time since 2007 could be dealt a mortal blow by Ittihad.

    STICK WITH THE SAUDIS

    Sierra sprung a surprise last Monday, starting just one of his struggling foreign quartet – Brazilian forward Romarinho – upon the end of Ittihad’s three-year exile from the ACL.

    The outcome was emphatic.

    January addition Abdulaziz Al Bishi, plus squad men like Abdulaziz Al Aryani and Ziyad Al Sahafi, will hope for more of the same.

    With SPL survival the overriding priority, Sierra should stick with these figures at Wahda.

    Recommended