Two minutes is how long it took Karim Benzema to find the opposing net this Sunday. Served on the left side by the Dutchman Steven Bergwijn, new recruit of Al-Ittihad from Ajax, the French striker cut back into the axis before opening his right foot and making a sumptuous curling shot, from more than 20 meters.
The first goal in a long series for Al-Ittihad, which took place against Al-Wehda (7-1) in the third day of the Saudi championship. The former Madrid player even scored a hat-trick, scoring two more goals in the second half (46th and 89th minutes). Houssem Aouar, who played alongside the Frenchman at OL and is once again his teammate in Saudi Arabia since this season, also scored.
Al-Ittihad leads the championship
Karim Benzema, for his part, has already scored six goals in all competitions since the start of the season. The Frenchman is coming off a complicated year, marked by tensions with former coach Marcelo Gallardo. The Argentinian coach was ousted by the club after sidelining the Frenchman, the team’s star, and was replaced by Laurent Blanc, who had already had the striker under his command in the French team between 2010 and 2012.
With this third victory in three games, Al-Ittihad consolidates its first place in the standings, having a better goal difference than its runner-up Al-Hilal. The club finished the previous season in a disappointing fifth place.
- RMC Sport
Related News :