Karim Benzema’s two goals were crucial in Al-Ittihad’s 3-0 victory over Al-Fayha, extending their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League by nine points.
With three matches remaining, Al-Ittihad is comfortably ahead and will now watch Al-Hilal’s upcoming game against Al-Orobah. Benzema opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a left-footed shot after a clever play with Unai Hernandez.
Al-Ittihad’s dominance continued as Benzema scored again nine minutes into the second half. He exchanged passes with Abdulrahman Al Obud before finding the bottom-left corner. Despite being substituted in the 57th minute due to an injury, which seemed minor, Benzema’s impact was significant. Mohammed Al Baqawi’s own goal later sealed the win for Al-Ittihad.
Benzema has been instrumental for Al-Ittihad this season, netting 21 goals in 28 league appearances. His performance against Al-Fayha included two shots on target and nine touches inside the opponent’s box. This victory marked Al-Ittihad’s 23rd league win, surpassing their previous record of 22 wins from last season.
Earlier, Al-Ahli missed an opportunity to close in on the top two after losing 3-1 to Al-Shabab. Mohammed Al Thani scored first for Al-Shabab in the 26th minute, followed by Abderrazzaq Hamed-Allah six minutes later. Gabri Veiga reduced the deficit for Al-Ahli before halftime with a goal assisted by Ivan Toney.
Hamed-Allah restored a two-goal lead for Al-Shabab in the 65th minute but was sent off shortly after for dissent towards the referee. Despite this setback, Al-Shabab maintained their position, ending sixth and just six points behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s team, Al-Nassr.
Meanwhile, Andrei Girotto’s own goal led to a narrow defeat for Al-Taawoun against Al-Qadsiah. This result saw Al-Ahli drop to fourth place in the standings. The competitive nature of these matches highlights how every game can significantly impact league positions.
Milestones and Records
Abderrazak Hamed-Allah achieved a milestone by becoming only the second player to score 150 goals in the competition. His achievement underscores his importance to his team despite his recent red card incident.
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The Saudi Pro League continues to deliver thrilling football action as teams battle for top positions. With only a few games left, each match becomes crucial in determining final standings and potential champions.