With an impressive comeback, Al-Ittihad has been crowned Saudi Pro League champions for the tenth time in their history, surpassing not only the defending champions Al-Hilal but also Cristiano Ronaldo’s team, Al-Nassr, who fell short of expectations throughout the season.

Karim Benzema achieves against Cristiano Ronaldo what he never managed at Real Madrid: Taking his crown

The decisive victory came on Thursday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, where Al-Ittihad defeated the already relegated Al-Raed 3-1. The match started badly for the visitors when Oumar Gonzalez put the home side ahead in the 9th minute. However, the team coached by Laurent Blanc quickly reacted with goals from Steven Bergwijn (21’), Danilo Pereira (40’) and Abdulrahman Al Obood (47’), completing an epic comeback to secure the title.

Despite missing this crucial match due to injury, Karim Benzema watched from the stands as he celebrated a milestone achievement in his career: winning the Saudi league and dethroning a team led by his historic rival and former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema, the top scorer for his team this season and second in the overall scoring chart, finished the league two goals behind Ronaldo, who leads with 23 goals.

The resurgence of Al-Ittihad’s dominance

With this victory, Al-Ittihad clinches their tenth Saudi league title, reclaiming the crown they last held in 2023 from Al-Hilal. The nine-point gap with the runner-up confirms the dominance of the Jeddah-based team, now ahead of Al-Nassr (9 titles) and solidifying their place as the second most successful club in the competition, behind only Al-Hilal with 19 championships.

Al-Ittihad boasts one of the strongest squads in Asian football, featuring international stars like Fabinho, N’Golo Kanté, Moussa Diaby, Algerian Houssem Aouar, Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajković, as well as the previously mentioned Benzema, Bergwijn, and Danilo Pereira. All are led by French coach Laurent Blanc.

Having secured the league title, Al-Ittihad can now fully focus on their next big challenge: the Saudi King’s Cup final against Al Qadsiyah, scheduled for May 30 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

This championship not only reflects the strength of a talented and well-managed team but also marks a shift in the Saudi league, with Karim Benzema and his teammates taking the spotlight from Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr, who failed to maintain the expected competitive level.

With this title, Al-Ittihad continues to write its glorious history, while the battle for supremacy in Saudi Arabia promises to be even more thrilling in the seasons to come.