Al-Ittihad Lose Rajkovic for Two More Matches: A Real Test for the Saudi Defense and Asian Ambitions

Predrag Rajkovic was not in the squad when Al-Ittihad beat Al-Fayha 2-1 on Tuesday. A few days earlier, he had watched from the sidelines as his team defeated Al-Nassr by the same scoreline in the previous round. Many supporters believed the Serbian goalkeeper only needed to rest for one match after a congested schedule. But Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah has just revealed the unwelcome news: Rajkovic will remain unavailable for Al-Ittihad’s next two matches. According to the report, the first-choice goalkeeper will miss the match against Al-Faisaly in round seven of the Saudi Roshn Pro League. He will also be absent for the opening league-phase match of the AFC Champions League Elite in the West region, when Al-Ittihad face Qatar’s Al-Shamal. The news was based on the player’s current fitness situation. Al-Ittihad previously confirmed that Rajkovic, along with Ahmed Al-Julaidan and Moukhtar Ali, would miss the game against Al-Fayha because of different injuries. Rajkovic was diagnosed with a tear in his abdominal muscle wall. This type of injury requires careful recovery because returning too soon could lead to a relapse. The fact that the goalkeeper has not yet rejoined full team training shows that Al-Ittihad’s staff are prioritizing safety over risk in a very delicate position. According to Arriyadiyah, Rajkovic will only return to training with the squad after the break that coincides with the Saudi Arabia national team’s participation in the Gulf Cup. The Gulf tournament is scheduled from September 23 to October 6. That means Al-Ittihad fans will probably not see the Serbian goalkeeper in the next two official matches. If the recovery plan follows the expected timeline, Rajkovic could resume training after that point. Saudi football is witnessing a intense race at the top of the table. In that context, a club like Al-Ittihad cannot treat two matches lightly just because the opponents do not have the same status. Al-Faisaly may not be rated as highly as Al-Nassr, but they are an organized team capable of causing problems. Al-Shamal, Qatar’s representative, is an unknown quantity in Asia. A poor opening match in the AFC Champions League Elite could leave Al-Ittihad chasing points in a format that demands consistency. The absence of Rajkovic is not just a story about a goalkeeper sitting out. The defensive system must change the way it operates in short build-up play. A goalkeeper who is good with his feet helps the team escape pressing from the back. When that goalkeeper is missing, the center-backs and full-backs have to adjust their movement, and the distance between the defensive and midfield lines also shifts. The wins against Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha were valuable, but the two 2-1 results showed a more tense rhythm than the Saudi club would have wanted. From a tactical perspective, a team replacing its first-choice goalkeeper usually faces two major issues. The first is the ability to organize the defense. Rajkovic has spent a long time playing with the same center-backs, so he knows when to come off his line and when to stay deep. Even a replacement with good reflexes needs time to build understanding. The second issue is ball handling under pressure. Al-Ittihad are not a team that simply defends in front of their own box; they also need a reliable starting point to launch attacks from deep. What is notable here is that Rajkovic is not absent for only one match. He already missed the games against Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha, and now he will miss two more. Based on Arriyadiyah’s report, the goalkeeper could miss four consecutive official matches. That is long enough for certain weaknesses to appear, weaknesses that a 2-1 result may hide. In top-level football, the difference between winning and dropping points often lies in small details such as an indecisive rush from the goal line or a long pass that starts a counterattack. Al-Ittihad showed character by beating Al-Nassr without Rajkovic. That match carried enormous media pressure, and the Jeddah club remained focused enough to protect their advantage. But the AFC Champions League Elite is a different story. Teams from West Asia are familiar with Saudi sides, and Al-Shamal will certainly prepare carefully for the opening match. If Al-Ittihad start slowly because the defense is not used to a new goalkeeper, the opponent can exploit that. Another factor worth mentioning is the injury situation involving Ahmed Al-Julaidan and Moukhtar Ali. Al-Ittihad are not only missing an important piece in goal; they are also without alternative options in other areas. When the squad is incomplete, the head coach must consider using young players or adjusting the tactical formation. That can affect the balance between attack and defense at decisive moments. There is a reality that many fans often forget: the goalkeeper is the most mentally pressured position on the pitch. Every mistake by a goalkeeper usually leads to a goal, while excellent saves are easily forgotten if the team does not win. Rajkovic understands this, and having to watch from the side during such a sensitive period of the season must be frustrating for him. But the decision to let him rest may be the best way to protect his long-term career and give Al-Ittihad a healthy goalkeeper in the decisive phase. Following Al-Ittihad’s recent matches, I noticed that this team does not depend on one individual to score goals. They have several attacking options and can create danger from set pieces. However, the defensive structure is closely tied to the goalkeeper’s reading of the game. When Rajkovic times his exits well, the center-backs feel confident enough to push higher. When the backup goalkeeper plays cautiously, the distance between the back line and the midfield tends to widen, creating space for the opponent to exploit. The story of Al-Ittihad in the next two matches is not only about winning or losing. It is about how they control crosses, aerial balls and set pieces in front of their own goal. An experienced goalkeeper reads the trajectory of the ball and decides whether to catch or punch with precision. If the backup goalkeeper deals with those situations poorly, Al-Ittihad could pay a heavy price in a tight game. In modern football, a goalkeeper is more than a shot-stopper. He starts attacks, controls the tempo and gives signals to the whole team about when to push forward. Al-Ittihad will lose part of that ability while Rajkovic is sidelined. But the Saudi club also gains a chance to test squad depth, something that will be crucial in a multi-front campaign. Looking at the schedule, the match against Al-Faisaly in the Roshn Pro League is an opportunity for Al-Ittihad to maintain their winning run. This season’s Saudi Pro League is highly competitive, and any team that drops points can be left behind. Al-Ittihad need a full three-point haul before thinking about their away trip in the AFC Champions League Elite. If they fail to beat Al-Faisaly, the pressure will grow for the game against Al-Shamal. As for Al-Shamal, the opening league-phase match in Asia always carries strategic importance. Al-Ittihad cannot afford to underestimate any opponent, especially while their first-choice goalkeeper is missing. A draw away from home might be acceptable for many teams, but for a title contender like Al-Ittihad, the expectation is always victory. Rajkovic’s absence will force the whole team to play more compactly and reduce individual errors. People involved in Saudi football often say the pitch never lies. If Al-Ittihad still get good results without Rajkovic, the club will gain more confidence in their backup options. If the defense becomes shaky, that is a signal for the coaching staff to rethink their plans in the next transfer window or when the first-choice goalkeeper returns. Either way, the coming period will be a genuine test of Al-Ittihad’s collective quality. Lessons from former Asian champions show that squad depth is the deciding factor in the final stages. A team is only strong when it has enough quality replacements in every position. Al-Ittihad are facing that challenge earlier than expected. Rajkovic will return, but the matches he misses could shape the way this club enters the decisive part of the season. Now, the important question is not when Rajkovic will come back. The bigger question is whether Al-Ittihad have enough strength to protect their ambitions on both fronts without their first-choice goalkeeper for four consecutive matches. The meeting with Al-Faisaly and then the clash with Al-Shamal will provide part of the answer.