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Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Benzema storms back to take acclaim as Aouar stars in Ittihad's cup triumph
DUBAI: Form is temporary, class is permanent. After a difficult start to his Al-Ittihad career, Karim Benzema has stormed back to his best to crown a sensational season with a two goal-performance as the Yellows added the King Cup to their recent Saudi Pro League triumph. Team-mate Houssem Aouar was nominated as the man of the match in the 3-1 win over Al-Qadsiah in Friday's final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. As the celebrations continued the day after the final, football accounts and fans — many from France and former club Real Madrid — across social media have been united in their praise for the former Ballon d'Or winner, who on Wednesday was named 2024-25 player of the season by the Saudi Pro League. On X, @433, which has a following of 5.8 million, commented: 'AL ITTIHAD WIN THE SAUDI DOUBLE! What a season for Karim Benzema: Saudi Pro League. King's Cup. Player of the Year.' Meanwhile @theMadridZone, with 1.4 million followers, posted a photo of Benzema with the King Cup and Saudi Pro league trophies following the presentation after Friday's final. Just three days earlier, the same account had posted: 'Congratulations to Karim Benzema for winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad. Champion wherever he goes.' Al-Ittihad's own English account on X had simply posted: 'THE GOAT. Player of the Season @Benzema.' The French star became the first player since Julio Tavares of Al-Faisaly to score twice in the final of Saudi Arabia's premier cup competition with goals in the 34th minute and deep into stoppage time at the end of the match. The first came from a clever chested effort from Steven Bergwijn's cross from the right while the second was a simple tap-in from close inside the six-yard box to end Al-Qadsiah's dreams of a late miracle. Aouar scored Al-Ittihad's second on 43 minutes while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replied with Qadsiah's solitary effort six minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half with a penalty as the Jeddah giants claimed their tenth title in the competition. At the final whistle, a celebrating Benzema still found time to console former Real Madrid colleague and current Qadsiah captain Nacho with a warm hug. Benzema had joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 but his first season did not go to plan as the then reigning champions failed to retain the SPL title they had won for the first time in 14 years the previous campaign. Injuries and lack of form, not to mention managerial changes at the club, led to frustration from supporters who questioned the wisdom of Benzene's signing as Al-Hilal stormed another League title. All that has been forgiven and forgotten as Benzema rolled back the years to score 21 SPL goals for Laurent Blanc's team in 2024-25, behind in the top scorer's chart to only Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo with 25 and Al-Ahli's Ivan Toney with 23. The King Cup double was the icing on the cake for the 37-year-old Ittihad captain. While Benzema has rightly been lauded by his club's supporters and others across the region for his display, Algeria's Aouar has been named player of the match by football platform Sofascore, which awards players scores out of 10 for their performances. Aouar was given 8.3 for his own starring role against Al-Qadsia, which saw him nod-in from close range after Qadsia goalkeeper Koen Casteels had saved brilliantly from Benzema's header. Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was second with a score of 8.0 while Benzema came third with 7.9.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Three Takeaways: Al Ittihad wins King's Cup to complete first Double
Al Ittihad underlined its dominance of Saudi football in 2024-25 as it beat Al Qadsiah 3-1 to win the King's Cup in Jeddah. Less than a week after officially being crowned Saudi Pro League champion for the 10th time, Al Ittihad also added a 10th King's Cup trophy - the first time in the club's history that it has won both titles in the same season. Al Ittihad captain Karim Benzema was his team's hero as he scored twice in the final, while Agerian Houssem Aouar also netted for Laurent Blanc's side. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given Al Qadsiah some hope but Al Ittihad held out for a historic victory at King Abdullah Sports City, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presenting Benzema and his teammates with the King's Cup trophy. For more Saudi sports news, visit our dedicated page. Here, Al Arabiya English brings you Three Takeaways from Al Ittihad's 3-1 King's Cup final triumph over Al Qadsiah. Al Ittihad makes history Although Al Ittihad is widely regarded as the second most successful club - after its great rival Al Hilal - in the history of Saudi football, the Jeddah giant had surprisingly never claimed a Saudi Pro League and King's Cup Double. The last chance Al Ittihad had to achieve the feat was back in 2009. Then coached by Argentine Gabriel Calderon, Al Ittihad lifted the Pro League title but was denied the Double by a rampant Al Shabab, which convincingly won the King's Cup final 2009. The same thing happened to Al Ittihad in 1982, when Al Hilal emerged as 3-1 victor in the King's Cup final. Al Ittihad has also been prevented from winning the Double by circumstance. The King's Cup was not played between 1991 and 2007, and during that time Al Ittihad managed to win both the Crown Prince's Cup and Pro League titles in the same season on two occasions - 1997 and 2003; had the King's Cup been held, Al Ittihad would have certainly been favorite to lift it. But on Friday night, Al Ittihad's fans could finally celebrate a maiden Pro League and King's Cup Double. For Laurent Blanc, it was a third Double of his coaching career, having achieved the feat with PSG in 2015 and 2016. The former France captain also managed to do so as a player with Auxerre in 1996. Blanc had spoken ahead of the final about it being a 'special kind of match' and Al Ittihad's players delivered for their supporters - securing a first King's Cup triumph since 2018. That the Double was completed at Al Ittihad's own King Abdullah Sports City Stadium also made the night even sweeter for the club. 'Al Ittihad fans in Jeddah are a vital part of this club's identity,' Blanc said. Benzema brings it home On the pitch in Jeddah, it was Al Ittihad's man for the big occasion who again came up with the goods. Benzema's influence this season has been undeniable - both in his role as a senior leader in the dressing-room and with his performances on the pitch. When the pressure has been on in 2024-25, Benzema has consistently delivered. The ex-Real Madrid striker put Al Ittihad ahead in the 34th-minute, completing a move that also involved Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn. That front three has been irrepressible for Al Ittihad over the past few months and it was apt that they combined for the opening goal of the final. Diaby released Bergwijn, whose cross found Benzema; the Al Ittihad captain improvised impressively to chest the ball past Al Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels. Diaby and Benzema were involved again for Al Ittihad's second nine minutes later. French winger Diaby stood the ball up for his compatriot, who saw his powerful header magnificently saved by Casteels. Sadly for the Belgian shot-stopper, his defense did not react quickly enough to prevent Houssem Aouar from stealing in at close range to nod home and double his team's lead. It was the 13th goal of what has been the most prolific campaign of midfielder Aouar's career to date. Al Qadsiah reduced the arrears thanks to a penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in first-half stoppage time but when midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez was red carded in the 81st minute, it left the team from Dammam facing an uphill battle to equalize. And in the 94th minute, Benzema struck again - with yet another clutch contribution for his team. Once more it was Diaby who provided the assist, enabling Benzema to sweep the ball past Casteels for the 25th goal of a magnificent season for Al Ittihad's No. 9. It was fitting that Benzema, this week named Saudi Pro League Player of the Year, was the man to put the exclamation point on Al Ittihad's historic Double triumph. Heartbreak for Al Qadsiah Nine months ago, Al Qadsiah was a newly promoted side whose primary goal was to stay in the Saudi Pro League in its first season back in the top flight. But led by savvy Spaniard Michel, Al Qadsiah has defied expectations from day one - staying around the Pro League's top three for almost the entirety of the campaign. This was chiefly thanks to a series of intelligent summer 2024 signings - including defender Nacho Fernandez from Real Madrid, goalkeeper Koen Casteels from Wolfsburg, and forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julián Quiñones from Marseille and Club America respectively. The latter pair have been sensational for Al Qadsiah. Quiñones finished the season on 25 goals from 33 games and ended as the King's Cup top scorer with five goals. Aubameyang managed 21 in 36 across all competitions and scored in every round of the King's Cup in which he played - netting Al Qadsiah's winner in the semifinal and also bagging in the final. Aubameyang's coolly-taken penalty in Jeddah looked to have helped his team get back into the game, before Benzema's second broke Al Qadsiah hearts. As one of the most consistent sides in Saudi Arabia in 2024-24, a maiden King's Cup title would have been a fitting reward for a fine season for Michel and his players. Al Qadsiah has made a significant impression on the Kingdom's football landscape this season - competing successfully with the PIF-owned 'big four' of Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ahli. But it finishes the campaign empty handed. A defeat to Al Hilal last week meant Al Nassr pipped Al Qadsiah to third place in the Pro League; the loss to Al Ittihad means it will be Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, not Al Qadsiah, now competing in the AFC Champions League Two in 2025-26. Still, Al Qadsiah will now regroup and with further smart additions in the coming months, there is no reason that the club cannot be a contender for major trophies again next season.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Benzema's double strike gives Ittihad the double
JEDDAH: Karim Benzema scored twice as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Qadsiah 3-1 on Friday to lift the King Cup and complete the double after winning the Saudi Pro League title earlier in May. At a delighted King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, the Frenchman scored in each half to give the Tigers another trophy to celebrate with their fans. It marked a 10th King Cup triumph for the club to go along with its 10th league success. There was an explosion of goalmouth action in the closing stages of the first half. Al-Ittihad had been on top for much of the game but both teams had come close. Fans to wait until the 34th minute however to break the deadlock. #King_Cup_Final For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport — Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) May 30, 2025 First, Benzema, who scored 21 league goals, did what he does best. Moussa Diaby freed Steven Bergwijn down the right and his cross was chested home by Benzema. Then, after 43 minutes, Diaby floated a ball over from the right to Benzema at the far post and while the Frenchman's header was saved, there was Houssem Aouar to finish from close range. Just when the Tigers were set to head back in at the break in a very good position, Al-Qadsiah were back in the game. Cameron Puertas was bundled over the box and up stepped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to send Predrag Rajkovic the wrong way. After the restart, the next goal was always going to be crucial and though Al-Qadsiah pushed for an equaliser, it was Benzema who settled the tie and won the cup in added time after Qadsiah's Ezequiel Hernandez had been sent off for a second bookable offence. Not for the first time in the game or the season, much of the good work was done by Diaby. The winger broke free on the left to put the ball across the goal for his fellow Frenchman to score from close range to seal the cup and the double with almost the last kick of a hugely successful –and long- season for Ittihad.
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Houssem Aouar: Winning the Saudi Pro League is something powerful
Houssem Aouar says winning the Saudi Pro League in his debut campaign with Al Ittihad has been 'a huge source of pride', as the Algerian midfielder sets his sights on a domestic double when his side contest the King's Cup final on Friday. Aouar, 25, joined the Jeddah club last summer from Italian giants Roma and made an instant impact, scoring a dramatic injury-time winner against Al Kholood on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 campaign. Later that month, he converted a 98th-minute penalty to seal a tense victory over Al Taawoun – setting the tone for what would become a standout season. The former Lyon playmaker finished the league campaign with 12 goals and four assists in 30 appearances, emerging as a key figure in a side that clinched the Saudi Pro League crown with a game to spare. 'Winning a league title – this is the first time for me,' Aouar told the Saudi Pro League's official media channel. 'It's something powerful and I'll remember it for the rest of my life. 'It's been a long journey, and winning a league rewards the strongest and most consistent team over the season. This year, we were the best team in Saudi Arabia.' The title marked Al Ittihad's 10th league triumph and their second in three seasons, restoring the club to the summit of Saudi Arabian football following a disappointing fifth-place finish in 2023/24. The turnaround, Aouar said, came down to hard work, belief, and leadership – notably from club captain Karim Benzema. The former Real Madrid striker, who lifted four La Liga titles and five Uefa Champions League crowns in Spain, has been 'hugely important' to the squad's mentality, according to Aouar. 'His influence has been essential,' he said. 'He's always won wherever he's gone – it's not luck, it's not a coincidence. He's a true competitor. 'He's very demanding with himself and with his teammates, which kept us all focused. That's crucial when it comes to winning a league. You need that focus, that drive, and Karim brings that every day.' While Aouar and Al Ittihad have already secured the league, their attention has now turned to completing the double. They face First Division side Al Qadsiah in Friday's King's Cup final in Riyadh – a fixture the team is approaching with full focus. 'There's still one last step,' Aouar said. 'When I signed here, it was to win everything. We've celebrated the league, but now we're preparing for the final because, as competitors, we want to finish the job. 'We'll give it everything – we want that victory. The players, the staff, the fans – everyone deserves it.' Aouar, who represents Algeria at international level, has revitalised his career in Saudi Arabia after a frustrating spell in Serie A. Now, with a title in hand and a cup final on the horizon, he is fully focused on closing out a memorable debut season in style. 'For me, this season has been special,' Aouar added. 'But the best memories come when you win. That's what we're here to do.'
Al Jazeera
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr lose to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Pro League
The crushing loss drops Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr down to fourth in the Saudi league ladder, 11 points behind Al-Ittihad in the title race. Houssem Aouar scored a last-minute goal to help Al-Ittihad complete a comeback and secure a 3-2 win over Al-Nassr, taking them a step closer to clinching the Saudi Pro League title. Sadio Mane opened the scoring on Wednesday for the home side after three minutes with a low strike. The Senegal international then assisted Ayman Yahya to make it 2-0 for Al-Nassr in the 37th minute. The goal stood following a VAR review, even though the ball had touched Mane's hand in the build-up. Al-Ittihad were the better side after the interval and Karim Benzema reduced the deficit with a header in the 49th minute. Laurent Blanc's side equalised after a counterattack, finished off by N'Golo Kante, who slotted the ball into Al-Nassr's net. Algeria international Aouar scored the game-winner for Al-Ittihad in added time from close range following a cross by Moussa Diaby. Al-Ittihad, who can clinch the domestic double after reaching the King Cup final, extended their lead to 71 points, six ahead of Al-Hilal, with four games remaining. Advertisement For Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, now fourth with 60 points, the loss was a setback to their hopes of reaching the AFC Champions League elite next season, with only two teams qualifying from the league after Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia won the continental title last Saturday.
