The Jeddah Derby also known as the Red Sea Derby (), is the football matches contested between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, both from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. For more than 70 years, it used to be the longest running top-flight derby in Saudi Arabian football. The rivalry started in 1951 and is considered to be one of the strongest and most viewed matches in Asia and the Arab world. The rivalry was halted when Al-Ahli were relegated in 2022 to the 2022âÂÂ23 Saudi First Division League for the first time in their history.
History
The first-ever match between these two teams was in 1951. The two teams played a friendly match in Al-Saban Stadium in Jeddah which ended 0âÂÂ0. In 1958, both teams met each other in the final of the Crown Prince Cup in what would be the first final between these two teams. Over 12,000 fans attended the match at the Al-Saban Stadium in Jeddah. Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Ahli 3âÂÂ2 to lift their first Crown Prince Cup trophy. The first league match between the two sides was during the first season of the Saudi League, the 1976âÂÂ77 season. Al-Ahli won the match 2âÂÂ0 thanks to goals from Saad Al-Harbi and Idris Adam. Saeed Ghurab is the top scorer of the derby with 20 goals, 17 for Al-Ittihad and 3 for Al-Ahli. The clubs have met each other in 12 finals, with Al-Ittihad winning 7 and Al-Ahli winning 5.
Official match results
As of 1 April 2024. Source:
Dates are in dd/mm/yyyy form.
- SF = Semi-finals
- QF = Quarter-finals
- R16 = Round of 16
- R32 = Round of 32
- GS = Group stage
- R1 = Round 1
- R2 = Round 2
<sup>1</sup> 1987 King Cup Second Round match won 4âÂÂ3 on penalties by Al-Ittihad after both teams were tied 0âÂÂ0.<br> <sup>2</sup> 2005âÂÂ06 Crown Prince Cup quarter-final won 4âÂÂ2 on penalties by Al-Ahli after both teams were tied 1âÂÂ1.<br> <sup>3</sup> 2011 King Cup Final won 4âÂÂ2 on penalties by Al-Ahli after both teams were tied 0âÂÂ0.
Records
Most goals in a match
- 10 goals on 24 October 1966 Al-Ittihad 8âÂÂ2 Al-Ahli
- 5 goals on 22 September 1958 Al-Ahli 2âÂÂ3 Al-Ittihad
- 7 goals on 2 May 1960 Al-Ittihad 7âÂÂ0 Al-Ahli
- 7 goals on 15 October 1968 Al-Ahli 4âÂÂ3 Al-Ittihad
- 7 goals on 10 April 1983 Al-Ahli 5âÂÂ2 Al-Ittihad
- 7 goals on 26 February 2022 Al-Ittihad 4âÂÂ3 Al-Ahli
Al-Ahli biggest wins
<nowiki>*</nowiki> <small>Four or more goals difference, OR Al-Ahli scored five or above</small>
- Al-Ahli 5-0 Al-Ittihad on 13 November 1965
- Al-Ahli 4-0 Al-Ittihad on 18 October 1969
- Al-Ahli 5âÂÂ1 Al-Ittihad on 3 July 1973
- Al-Ahli 5âÂÂ0 Al-Ittihad on 28 May 1976
- Al-Ahli 4âÂÂ1 Al-Ittihad on 8 June 1979
- Al-Ahli 5âÂÂ2 Al-Ittihad on 10 April 1983
Al-Ittihad biggest wins
<nowiki>*</nowiki> <small>Four or more goals difference, OR Al-Ittihad scored five or above</small>
- Al-Ittihad 7âÂÂ0 Al-Ahli on 2 May 1960
- Al-Ittihad 8âÂÂ2 Al-Ahli on 24 October 1966
Highest Attendance
<nowiki>*</nowiki> <small>45,000 or above</small>
- 59,026 â Al-Ahli 1âÂÂ1 Al-Ittihad (<small>19 December 2014</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 55,764 â Al-Ittihad 0âÂÂ1 Al-Ahli (<small>6 October 2023</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 54,256 â Al-Ittihad 0âÂÂ1 Al-Ahli (<small>31 December 2015</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 52,909 â Al-Ittihad 1âÂÂ4 Al-Ahli (<small>3 February 2017</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 50,633 â Al-Ahli 1âÂÂ0 Al-Ittihad (<small>1 April 2024</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 49,732 â Al-Ahli 1âÂÂ1 Al-Ittihad (<small>23 September 2019</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 47,223 â Al-Ittihad 3âÂÂ2 Al-Ahli (<small>27 December 2016</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 46,977 â Al-Ittihad 0âÂÂ3 Al-Ahli (<small>22 November 2015</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 46,527 â Al-Ittihad 1âÂÂ3 Al-Ahli (<small>25 November 2018</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 45,913 â Al-Ittihad 0âÂÂ0 Al-Ahli (<small>4 February 2018</small>) (<small>King Abdullah Sports City</small>)
- 45,000 â Al-Ittihad 2âÂÂ1 Al-Ahli (<small>17 May 2000</small>) (<small>Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium</small>)
Statistics
Statistics as of 1 April 2024.
Top scorers
Below is the list of players who have scored at least four goals in official meetings.
Players who played for both clubs
Source:
Al-Ahli then Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad then Al-Ahli
References