Fabinho putting friendships aside: "In Sea Derby, I'm Al Ittihad, Bobby is Al Ahli"

Al Ittihad midfielder Fabinho will put friendship and old Liverpool connections to one side tonight when he faces Roberto Firmino’s Al Ahli in the highly anticipated Sea Derby in Jeddah.

The two Brazilians face off against one another on Thursday in Matchweek 9 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League, headlined by the competition’s inaugural Derby Week where three high-profile derbies take place across three days.

The match at King Abdullah Sports City represents an incredible way to kick-start the special round, with second-placed Al Ittihad looking to rein in RSL champions Al Hilal at the summit, and Al Ahli keen to truly ignite their campaign and improve on their current position in eighth.

And for Fabinho, who suffered defeat successive 1-0 defeats in the derby last season following his move from Liverpool, Thursday night offers a chance at redemption.

“For us, it is a really important game,” the Brazil star said. “The team is in a really good moment. We are second in the league, just behind Al Hilal, and we want to be at the top, so we have to win this game.

“This will be my third derby; the first two were not very good for us. We lost both of them, so it is an opportunity to give a nice result to our fans. The fans are asking for us to give everything to win this game.”

Fifth last term as they came unstuck in their bid to retain the RSL title, Al Ittihad have burst from the blocks this season. Laurent Blanc’s side have won seven of eight RSL matches, their only loss that 3-1 defeat to Al Hilal in Matchweek 4.

FIFA World Cup winner Blanc has taken little time to get across his coaching principles since his appointment in July, while summer signings in Houssem Aouar, Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn have all been a huge hit already.

Captain Karim Benzema, meanwhile, looks inspired in his second season in the Kingdom, with eight goals thus far.

“The players that arrived [in the transfer window] are playing really well," Fabinho said. "Moussa Diaby, Houssem Aouar, all the players who arrived have really integrated into the team and adapted to the team and the way we play.

“Ssome key players are finding their best football again, so this is very important for us. The new coach and his staff arrived as well, and we know the ideas they have and how they want to play football. What everybody expects from us is to fight for the league; it’s not a big surprise. We have to do everything to reach the top.”

On going up against Firmino, his compatriot with whom he spent five trophy-laden years at Liverpool and played alongside regularly with the Brazil national team, Fabinho joked: “It is not nice. ‘Bobby’ is one of my good friends that I have made in football [and] he is a very good player, so I never like to play against him.

“Last season when we played against them, I made a hard tackle on him and after the game he sent me a photo of his ankle. I said: ‘Sorry, Bobby!’

“After the game we can talk but, in the game, I will fight for my side and my team. It’s nice to be in the same city as him, to see him off the pitch often. Our families also are in contact, and he is a very good friend. But on the pitch and in the derby, I am with Al Ittihad and he is with Al Ahli.”

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