Al-Ittihad extended their pre-season winning streak to two matches with a commanding 2-1 victory over Las Palmas on Saturday during their training camp in Marbella. The Saudi club, preparing for the 2026-27 campaign, showcased attacking prowess through their foreign contingent despite a spirited comeback from the Spanish side in the closing stages.
Moussa Diaby opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a clinical finish. The French winger carved down the right flank, beating his marker into space before facing off against Las Palmas' goalkeeper in a one-on-one opportunity. Diaby made no mistake, slotting the ball past the keeper to give Al-Ittihad an early advantage.
Second-Half Dominance and Defensive Drama
Roger Fernandes doubled the lead just five minutes after the interval with a virtually identical attacking pattern. The Brazilian midfielder raced down the right wing and finished with composure to extend Al-Ittihad's advantage to 2-0. Manager Jens Wiesing had deployed his first-choice lineup from the start before introducing fresh legs from the bench in the second half—a tactical rotation typical of pre-season friendlies.
Las Palmas pulled one back in the 77th minute when a powerful strike from distance deflected off Mohammed Barnawi and wrong-footed substitute goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Absi, making the final scoreline 2-1. The match was marked by disciplinary issues: Las Palmas had a player sent off in the 23rd minute for an off-the-ball incident involving Muadh Faqihi, while Al-Ittihad's Farha Al-Shamrani received a red card late on.
Building Momentum Ahead of AFC Champions League
This victory marks Al-Ittihad's second consecutive win at their Spanish camp. The Tigers had previously defeated South Africa's Orlando Pirates 3-2 in their opening friendly last Tuesday. Before returning to Jeddah, the Saudi side will face Real Mallorca on 30 July in their final warmup fixture.
Al-Ittihad's competitive calendar begins with high stakes: they face the UAE's Al-Jazira in the AFC Champions League Elite qualifying play-off on 11 August. These friendlies serve as crucial preparation for a demanding continental campaign where every match carries weight in their pursuit of progression.
