Opposed to Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday in Jeddah in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Ittihad French striker Karim Benzema went through all the emotions during an electric second period. After opening the score, KB9 saw Ronaldo equalize in stride before receiving a yellow card after an altercation with former FC Porto player Otavio.
Karim Benzema was hot. The captain of Al-Ittihad was one of the great entertainers of the clash against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr on Friday in Jeddah. If Laurent Blanc's team snatched victory in added time thanks to a nice strike from the Dutchman Steven Bergwijn (2-1), the two former Real Madrid Golden Balls spiced up a particularly electric second period.
KB9 marks, CR7 responds
After a nice hug between the French and the Portuguese in the tunnel before kick-off, KB9 released his team upon returning from the locker room (1-0, 55th). Barely had he celebrated his 10th goal of the season (which makes him the 2nd top scorer in the Saudi Pro League behind Aleksandar Mitrovic), when Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for Al-Nassr and joined him in 2nd place among the best goaleador from Saudi Arabia (57th, 1-1).
Benzema warned, Ronaldo frustrated
Less than ten minutes later, tempers seriously heated between the former Lyonnais and Otavio. A rare image, Karim Benzema not having the reputation of being a sanguine player. But this Friday evening, the Frenchman is heated and Cristiano Ronaldo needs to surround him and the former Parisian Danilo intervenes so that the altercation does not degenerate further. Between a tongue flick from the Portuguese, the raised finger from the former Lyonnais, the referee has no time to get bored and hands out yellow cards.
Hot, especially as the two opponents heated up again a few minutes later. In the duel between KB9 and CR7, it is ultimately the Frenchman who emerges victorious. Karim Benzema can congratulate his partners and Ronaldo express his frustration. Al-Ittihad leads the Saudi championship with five points from Al-Hilal. Al-Nassr is 4th.
