Jens Wessing made three changes to Al-Ittihad's starting line-up for Monday evening's clash with Al-Hazm, as the team moved into the third round of the Roshn Saudi Pro League with a new look.
The biggest adjustment was the change in shape. After Al-Ittihad beat Al-Qadsiah 1-0 in the previous round with a 4-4-2, Wessing switched to a 4-2-3-1 against Al-Hazm. That shift gave Al-Ittihad a different structure in attack and changed the way the side was set up around the lone forward.
Against Al-Hazm, Al-Ittihad started with Youssef En-Nesyri as the lone striker. The change was part of a broader reshuffle, with the coach making three alterations to his lineup after the win over Al-Qadsiah.
The decision suggests Wessing wanted more control in midfield and a different attacking balance for the Monday evening fixture. Moving from a two-forward setup to a lone-striker system often changes how a team presses, builds attacks and supports the player up front, and Al-Ittihad clearly opted for that approach here.
For Al-Ittihad, the lineup update is less about a dramatic overhaul and more about a tactical reset after a narrow win. A 1-0 result can often lead to adjustments rather than continuity, especially when the next opponent brings a different challenge. In this case, Wessing used the chance to alter both the formation and the personnel.
That makes the Al-Ittihad vs Al-Hazm match a useful early indicator of how Wessing wants to manage the squad in the opening weeks of the Saudi Pro League season. The changes were specific, the shape was different, and the team’s attacking role was centered on En-Nesyri from the start.
