Doumbia Nets First Saudi Pro League Goal As Al-Ittihad Edge Al-Najma 1-0

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Mahamadou Doumbia delivered Al-Ittihad a narrow 1-0 win over Al-Najma in the Saudi Pro League, easing recent pressure on the side. The result stopped a small stumble after the late draw against Al-Fateh, yet Al-Ittihad still sit nine points adrift of third place in the table.

The match took place amid ongoing uncertainty around Karim Benzema, who was again missing as talk continues about a possible departure. Moussa Diaby’s future is also the subject of transfer speculation, but Diaby produced a sharp display that shaped the contest from the opening minutes.

Al-Ittihad struck very quickly, finding the breakthrough after just four minutes. Diaby broke down the flank and cut the ball back into space for Doumbia, who stayed composed and placed a controlled finish into the bottom-left corner, giving goalkeeper Braga no chance and settling early nerves.

The hosts controlled long passages of play after that goal, using Diaby’s pace and Houssem Aouar’s movement to stretch Al-Najma. Both Diaby and Aouar forced important saves from Braga, who reacted well to low efforts inside the area as Al-Ittihad searched for a second goal that never arrived.

After half-time, Diaby continued to trouble the visitors’ defence, drifting inside to test Braga again near the hour mark with a left-footed strike from inside the box. The goalkeeper got down to block, keeping Al-Najma in the match while Al-Ittihad pushed numbers forward but lacked a clinical edge.

Substitute Talal Haji almost ended the contest near the closing stages. A teasing cross from the right reached the far post, where Haji arrived late but could not connect cleanly, as Braga closed the angle and did just enough to put Haji off and keep the score at 1-0.

Al-Najma finally mounted a late spell of pressure, forcing Al-Ittihad back towards the penalty area. Predrag Rajkovic reacted sharply to push away Ali Jasim’s curling attempt, then Majed Dawran spun inside the box, only to drag a shot wide of the left post in the final seconds of added time.

| #RSL | #Alittihad_AlNajmah Congratulations to our fans! pic.twitter.com/o7rMAun99vAl-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) February 1, 2026

Al-Ittihad vs Al-Najma: Key Saudi Pro League numbers and season context

Al-Ittihad finished with clear control of the attacking data, although the margin of victory stayed slim. The hosts produced 15 shots but generated only 1.04 expected goals (xG). Al-Najma, who rarely threatened until the final minutes, created 0.41 xG during a largely defensive performance.

The win extended Al-Ittihad’s strong record in February Pro League fixtures. The team are now unbeaten in 18 league matches played in that month, with 15 wins and three draws, and this contest also ended a sequence of six February games without a clean sheet for the Jeddah club.

For Al-Najma, the defeat continued a difficult league campaign, as the side remain without a victory after 19 matches, with five draws and 14 defeats. They are just the second club to start a Saudi Pro League season winless across 19 games, matching Al-Wehda’s run during the 2012-13 campaign.

The result gives Al-Ittihad a platform after recent frustration, even though the scoreline stayed modest compared with the pressure created. Doumbia’s first Saudi Pro League goal, backed by Diaby’s influence and Rajkovic’s late stop, ensured three points while keeping Al-Najma deep in relegation trouble.