Benzema scored a masterpiece in his Al Ittihad debut
In the match in Group A of the Arab Club Champions Cup on the evening of July 27, Benzema sealed the victory for Al Ittihad in the 55th minute. After receiving the ball from teammate Igor Coronado, the former Real star led from the left wing near the penalty area, then cut your heart into the high corner.
Previously, in the 26th minute, Oussema Bouguera opened the scoring for Esperance. Al Ittihad equalized in the 35th minute, after Benzema set up Abderrazak Hamdallah to score.
Benzema left the field to make way for Sultan Farhan in the 71st minute. This 2-1 victory at King Fahd brought Al Ittihad to the top of Group A. The Iraqi team, Al Shorta also had three points but ranked second, having only won. Club Sfaxien 1-0. Esperance and Club Sfaxien are both from Tunisia. The second and third matches will take place on July 30 and August 2. The top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Arab Club Champions Cup is a tournament between clubs in the Arab world. The tournament consists of 16 teams and the format is similar to the UEFA Champions League.
Benzema signed with Al Ittihad from June on a free transfer. The 35-year-old striker liquidated his contract a year early with Real to go to Saudi Arabia. Al Ittihad gives Benzema a salary of 200 million USD per year, just like Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Former Chelsea star, N'Golo Kante also joined Al Ittihad and received a salary of 100 million.
Last season, Al Ittihad won the Saudi Pro League with 72 points, five points ahead of Al Nassr. Coach Nuno Santo's team also won the Saudi Super Cup, after two 3-1 victories over Al Nassr in the semi-finals and 2-0 against Al Fayha in the final.
Benzema is the second-highest goalscorer in Real's history, with 354 goals. The achievement of the French striker is only less than Ronaldo's record of 450 goals. Last year, Benzema won the Ballon d'Or for the first time.
Al Nassr also attended the Arab Club Champions Cup. Ronaldo and his teammates are in Group D with other Saudi Arabian clubs, Al Shabab, Zamalek (Egypt) and Union Monastirienne (Tunisia).
