Al-Ittihad鈥檚 Igor Coronado ready to take center stage against Raja Casablanca in Arab Club Champions Cup final

萝莉视频 may have won more tournaments than any other Arab nation, but the last was back in 2005 when Al-Ittihad defeated another North African opponent, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, 4-1 over two legs. (FILE/Twitter)
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  • Jeddah club will miss key Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi on Saturday as history beckons for Saudi side

LONDON: The first major trophy of the season is up for grabs on Saturday as Al-Ittihad and Raja Casablanca meet in the delayed final of the 2020  Arab Club Champions Cup in Rabat.

The location may give the Moroccan team home advantage 鈥� even if there will be no fans in the stadium 鈥� but history is on the side of 萝莉视频 whose clubs are the most successful with eight tournament triumphs, one more than Tunisia.

The road to Rabat has been a long one in more ways than one. It is two years since the two teams started out in the tournament, with games delayed on more than one occasion due to the global pandemic. The quarterfinals took place in January 2020, with the semifinals concluded a year later as Al-Ittihad saw off Saudi rivals Al-Shabab, and Casablanca overcame a challenge from Ismaily of Egypt.

萝莉视频 may have won more tournaments than any other Arab nation, but the last was back in 2005 when Al-Ittihad defeated another North African opponent, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, 4-1 over two legs 鈥� Saturday鈥檚 final is a single match 鈥� lifting the trophy in front of its fans in Jeddah.

However, apart from the AFC Champions League a few months later, Al-Ittihad has yet to win another international trophy. After 16 years, it is time for that drought to end, though given the club鈥檚 recent financial issues, the prize money of $6 million also will be welcome.

That sum would pay half the transfer fee of the big summer signing Igor Coronado. The Brazilian joined from Sharjah but missed the opening two games of the season as he was not registered in time.

Al-Ittihad鈥檚 results have been mixed this season. A disappointing opening day defeat at the hands of Al-Fayha was followed by a 3-0 win over  Al-Raed on Monday. The comfortable victory was watched by Coronado, who is eager to get started at his new club.

鈥淚t was great to watch the Al-Raed game with the fans, and the Ittihad fans were one reason I joined the club. I have seen videos of them online many times,鈥� Coronado said.

鈥淲e will miss their passion in the final.鈥�

The 29-year-old added that the players will make up for it. 鈥淲e will give 120 percent to win. I am delighted that I can play and I am ready.鈥�

The question is: Which Al-Ittihad will turn up? The team that struggled against Al-Fayha or the one that strolled past Al-Raed?

Coronado is sure it will be the latter.

鈥淲e have learned from our mistakes against Al-Fayha and we can say that the first real match was against Al-Raed,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e played the way we wanted to play, and this is the standard we want to play for the rest of the season, including the final. It won鈥檛 be easy as both teams are hungry for the trophy, but we are ready.鈥�

While Coronado is available, there is less welcome team news. Star defender Ahmed Hegazi is suspended for the game and will be missed. The Egyptian was one of the best performers in the league last season, and given the attacking talent that the Moroccans have in their ranks, Omar Hawsawi and Hegazi鈥檚 likely replacement Ziyad Al-Sahafi will have to be at their best.

While Al-Ittihad were defeating Al-Raed, Casablanca were warming up with a trip to Italy to take on Roma. It ended with a 5-0 defeat against Jose Mourinho鈥檚 men and the defense had to work hard throughout. The Moroccan giants finished the league season last month as runners-up to city rival Wydad, and whether keeping sharp by heading to Rome was a good idea or not remains to be seen.

Coronado鈥檚 departure from Sharjah has affected Casablanca, too, as the Emirati side has signed Ben Malango from the Moroccan team to replenish its attacking stocks. The Congolese forward scored 16 goals last season. Soufiane Rahimi managed 14 as well as 12 assists, a record that prompted UAE giants Al-Ain to swoop earlier this month.

Saturday鈥檚 game will be the 25-year-old鈥檚 last for the club and he is aiming to bow out on a high.

鈥淚t would be wonderful to bid farewell to Raja and the fans by winning this important title,鈥� Rahimi said. 鈥淲e know Al-Ittihad are a strong team. We are all looking forward to the game and we are ready.鈥�

Perhaps it will not be the considerable attacking talent that makes a difference but Al-Ittihad鈥檚 Moroccan defensive midfielder Karim El-Ahmadi.

鈥淭here is no doubt that Raja are a great team and have experience in playing in finals and big games,鈥� said the 36-year-old veteran. 鈥淲e will have to be at our best if we are to give our fans the success they deserve.鈥�