Al-Ittihad Faces Injury Crisis with Richard Rios Ahead of Al Ain Match

Al-Ittihad’s evening against Abha had barely started when their plans were ripped up.

Eight minutes into the Saudi Roshn Pro League clash on Friday, Colombian midfielder Richard Rios crumpled to the turf after a fierce challenge, clutching his leg and grimacing in pain. The reaction from the player said enough. So did the faces on the Al-Ittihad bench.

Rios tried to get back to his feet but could not continue. He left the pitch in tears, struggling to walk cleanly as medical staff helped him off, and with that, Jens Wissing’s blueprint for the night went with him.

The German coach had no choice but to act quickly. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi was thrown on as an early substitute, Wissing immediately reshaping his side to cope without one of his key midfield pillars. The rhythm of the game changed, but so did the mood around the club.

Because this is not just about Abha.

Al-Ittihad are staring at a crucial continental test on Monday, when they face Al Ain of the UAE in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite. That tie was already carrying weight; now it carries a major question.

Will Richard Rios be there?

Inside the club, concern is real. The timing could hardly be worse, with “the Dean” needing experience, control and bite in midfield for a high-stakes Asian night. Instead, they are waiting on scans and medical reports.

Over the coming hours, tests will reveal the nature of Rios’s injury, how long he will be out and whether there is any realistic chance of him lining up against Al Ain.

For Al-Ittihad, the diagnosis will not just shape a team sheet. It could shape the next chapter of their continental campaign.