Al-Ittihad moved level on points with Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal after a 2-1 win over Al-Shabaab on Wednesday.
First-half goals from Abdulrahman Al Oboud and captain Karim Benzema proved enough to record a narrow win.
Al-Ittihad dominated the early stages but struggled to hit the target until Benzema’s effort in the 32nd minute which Abdullah Al Muayuf could not hold on to, with Al Obud on hand to break the deadlock.
This sparked Al-Shabaab into life, with Abderrazzak Hamed-Allah seeing their first effort saved by Predrag Rajkovic, but Al-Ittihad soon doubled their lead.
The hosts broke quickly before Hamed Al Ghamdi laid the ball back to Benzema, who curled his finish into the bottom-left corner.
But after just two minutes, Al-Shabaab pulled one back. Daniel Podens played a delightful ball across the face of goal and Aaron Kamara was in position to poke into the net.
Al-Ittihad pressed after the break to restore their two-goal cushion, with Steven Bergwijn and Benzema both going close, but a third goal was not needed as they held on.
#Roshan Saudi League
#Alittihad_alshabaab
Congratulations Tigers #Legends week pic.twitter.com/PkWVAeName— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) January 22, 2025
Data debrief: Benzema provides spark
Benzema had already matched his goal contribution from last season in the Saudi Pro League before this game, but he showed again that he is not done yet.
The former Real Madrid superstar has now scored 12 goals on the season, including five assists, to go along with his 16 goals from last term.
Inspired by Benzema, it is the first time since the 2020-21 season that Al-Ittihad have won three consecutive matches against Riyadh-based opposition in the same season, when they scored in each of their last nine matches in the capital.
