The Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição is preparing to rely on Dutch striker Steven Bergwijn in the front line of Al-Ittihad during the match against Al-Khaleej in the Roshen Professional League, in a tactical move aimed at compensating for the absence of French star Karim Benzema.

According to the technical direction within the team, Conceição believes that Bergwijn is the most suitable option to lead the attack at this stage, especially given his ability to implement the coach's ideas on the field and provide diverse attacking solutions.

This decision comes as a result of Karim Benzema's absence from the anticipated match due to an injury he sustained recently, which prompted the coaching staff to adopt a precautionary approach to ensure his safety.

The technical report indicated that Conceição preferred not to take the risk of Benzema returning early, in order to ensure his captain's full readiness for upcoming matches that are more sensitive and intense in local and international competitions.

The Portuguese coach relies on rotating players carefully, as evidenced by his attacking selections, as he seeks to prepare a larger number of players capable of compensating for any absences in the starting lineup.

This step comes amid fan anticipation for Bergwijn's performance in the striker position, especially since the match serves as an important test of the player's ability to provide the required contribution in the absence of Benzema from the starting formation.