'Feeling good' - Benzema's 22-minute hat-trick has Al Ittihad looking up again | OneFootball

It was, some would say, vintage Karim Benzema.

The Al Ittihad captain has long lifted his club to sky-high heights, none more so than last season’s dizzying double. After guiding Al Ittihad to both the Roshn Saudi League and King’s Cup success, the Frenchman was justifiably named the 2024-25 RSL Player of the Season.

The 2025-26 campaign began on a similar track: in the opening matchweek, Benzema struck a hat-trick at Al Okhdood as Al Ittihad kicked off their title defence with an emphatic 5-2 triumph.

However, if a return of only one goal since fell below his usual standards, then on Friday night, Benzema offered a stern reminder of his continued class.

As if it was in doubt, Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema with his Man of the Match award at Al Kholood

With a surging Al Ittihad out for a fifth successive league win, their skipper came to the fore. On 13 minutes at Al Kholood, Benzema converted a penalty to put the visitors to Ar Rass 1-0 up. By the 35th minute, he tapped home Moussa Diaby’s centre to secure his hat-trick.

In the end, Al Ittihad ran out 4-0 victors, leapfrogged Jeddah rivals Al Ahli into fifth - Matthias Jaissle’s side don’t play until Saturday - and moved to within nine points of Al Hilal at the summit.

Whisper it, but the RSL champions might just be back in the title race.

“Feeling good,” Benzema said afterwards, and rightly so. “It was a good day, a wonderful night. We delivered an excellent match; we did a great job. We're happy because we played well.

“We'll return to Jeddah with the three points - that's the most important thing.”

Ever the captain, Benzema wasn’t about to take all the plaudits.

“I'm happy with scoring, also happy with helping my teammates because they helped me,” he said. “They gave me good passes that I was able to score from. But the important thing for all of us is the win.”

Asked what was his objective for the remainder of the season - Al Ittihad are into the King’s Cup semi-finals and also are well-placed to reach the AFC Champions League Elite knockouts - Benzema replied: “God willing, achieving some titles.

"I believe this is everyone's goal here at Al Ittihad.”