Al-Ittihad delivered a statement victory over Saudi Pro League title rivals Al-Hilal, securing a 4-1 win on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Steven Bergwijn and Karim Benzema were among the scorers as Laurent Blanc’s team overturned an early deficit to dominate the match at King Abdullah Sport City, solidifying their status as title favorites.
Al-Ittihad Fight Back After Al-Hilal’s Early Lead
- Al-Hilal struck first in the 23rd minute, with Marcos Leonardo converting Joao Cancelo’s cross to put the visitors ahead.
- However, Al-Ittihad responded quickly, equalizing just six minutes later through Hassan Kadish.
- Bergwijn made it 2-1 with a powerful finish right before halftime, giving Al-Ittihad the lead heading into the break.
Bergwijn and Benzema Seal the Win
- Early in the second half, Bergwijn doubled his tally, finishing off a brilliant pass from N’Golo Kante to make it 3-1.
- Despite Al-Hilal dominating possession and attempting 16 shots to Al-Ittihad’s five in the second half, they failed to break through the solid Al-Ittihad defense.
- Karim Benzema sealed the win in the 86th minute, volleying home Moussa Diaby’s deep corner into the bottom-right corner to crush any hopes of a late Al-Hilal comeback.
With this emphatic win, Al-Ittihad take a significant step toward securing the Saudi Pro League title.
Data Debrief: Benzema Matches Ronaldo in the Scoring Race
- Al-Ittihad secured their fourth consecutive win and have now won 15 of their last 17 league matches (one draw, one defeat).
- Benzema’s late goal was his 16th in the Saudi Pro League this season, bringing him level with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the goal-scoring charts.
- The French striker has reached this milestone in two fewer appearances than Ronaldo, while also:
- Scoring from a lower expected goals (xG) tally (13.1 vs. Ronaldo’s 16.6).
- Boasting a better shot conversion rate (21.6% vs. Ronaldo’s 18%).
- Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s poor run continues, having won just one of their last five league matches (two draws, two defeats), after winning five in a row before this slump.
Final Thoughts
This dominant victory cements Al-Ittihad’s position at the top of the Saudi Pro League, while Al-Hilal face an uphill battle to regain momentum.
With Benzema in top form and Bergwijn stepping up, Al-Ittihad are now the clear favorites to claim the title.
