Story by'Feeling good' - Benzema's 22-minute hat-trick has Al Ittihad looking up againSaudi Pro LeagueSat, January 10, 2026 at 8:35 AM UTC·2 min readIt 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. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 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 KholoodWith 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.
