Al-Ittihad end Spain camp with defeat and late draw
Al-Ittihad concluded their pre-season training camp in Marbella with a loss to Real Mallorca and a draw against Malaga.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Michaelx82
Saudi club Al-Ittihad have concluded their overseas training camp in Marbella, Spain, as part of their preparations for the 2026-2027 season. The final tests in Spain yielded mixed results, ending on a challenging note for the squad.
In the morning fixture against Real Mallorca, head coach Jens Wissing opted for a reserve-heavy lineup, which resulted in a 2:4 defeat. Argentine youngster Mateo Borel and Adnan Al-Bishri were the scorers for the Saudi side.
The second match of the day against Malaga saw a stronger lineup take the pitch. Al-Ittihad took an early lead through Steven Bergwijn and George Ilenikhena, but the team could not hold onto their two-goal advantage, eventually drawing 2:2 after conceding twice in the second half.
Overall, the training camp saw the "Tigers" record two wins against Orlando Pirates (3:2) and Las Palmas (2:1), alongside these final two matches. The team is now heading back to Jeddah for the final phase of their pre-season work.
The competitive season is set to begin on 11 August, with Al-Ittihad facing UAE club Al-Jazira in an AFC Champions League Elite qualifying play-off.