Aouar Returns for Al-Ittihad's AFC Champions League Opener

Al-Ittihad head into Asia with a key piece back in place.

Head coach Jens Wissing confirmed that Algerian playmaker Houssem Aouar is fit and available for the Saudi giants’ AFC Champions League Elite opener against Al-Shamal of Qatar.

Al-Ittihad travel to Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Monday for the first round of the new league phase, and Wissing used his pre-match press conference, as reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, to deliver the update the club’s fans wanted: Aouar is ready to play.

The timing matters.

Aouar missed Al-Ittihad’s last match, a 3-1 victory over Al-Faisaly on Friday in the seventh round of the Saudi Roshn League. Even without him, “the Tigers” found their goals and their points. Now they regain one of the main architects of their attacking play just as the continental stage opens up.

Since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2024, the Algerian international has quickly become a central figure in Wissing’s plans. He has already made eight appearances in all competitions for Al-Ittihad this season, scoring twice and providing one assist, numbers that only hint at his broader influence between the lines.

His return gives Wissing extra creativity, control, and experience for a tricky away assignment in Qatar. For a club with serious ambitions in the AFC Champions League Elite, having Aouar back in the squad is not just good news — it’s a statement of intent before a long Asian campaign truly begins.