Al-Ittihad Faces Injury Woes with Rios Ahead of Al Ain Clash

Al-Ittihad’s evening against Abha had barely started when their plans were ripped up.

Eight minutes into the Roshn Saudi Pro League clash on Friday, Colombian midfielder Richard Rios crumpled to the turf after a fierce challenge, immediately clutching his leg. The reaction told its own story. No theatrics, no delay. Just pain.

For a side already juggling domestic demands with a high-stakes continental campaign, the timing could hardly be worse. Al-Ittihad face UAE giants Al Ain on Monday in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite, a fixture ringed in red on the club’s calendar. Rios is central to that blueprint. Or at least, he was.

As soon as he went down, concern spread quickly from the pitch to the touchline. Rios tried to get up, tried to walk it off, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. He left the field in tears, clearly struggling to walk normally, and headed straight down the tunnel. The image will have unsettled more than just the travelling supporters.

On the sideline, German coach Jens Wissing had no choice but to act. Plans for the night were shredded inside the opening 10 minutes. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi was thrown on, and Wissing immediately began to reshape his side to cope without one of his key midfield anchors.

The match against Abha carried its own importance, but every glance from the bench seemed to drift toward Monday. The coaching staff know what Rios brings in big games: aggression in the duels, balance in possession, and a calm head when the tempo spikes. Losing that, days before facing Al Ain, changes the entire feel of the tie.

For now, Al-Ittihad can only wait. The medical team will run tests to determine the extent of the damage, how long Rios will be sidelined, and whether there is any realistic chance of him being ready for the continental clash.

The club wanted to arrive in Asia at full strength. Instead, they head into a pivotal week with one of their most important players on crutches of uncertainty.