Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Al Ittihad proved they can win without Karim Benzema, defeating Al Fateh 4-2 in a dramatic Roshn Saudi League clash at Alinma Stadium on Friday night.

With Benzema sidelined after his opening-week hat-trick, Steven Bergwijn took center stage, striking twice in four minutes before halftime to swing the match in the champions’ favor.

Laurent Blanc’s side had gone ahead on 22 minutes through Houssem Aouar, only for Matias Vargas to level for Al Fateh 11 minutes later.

But Bergwijn, building on a dazzling debut season last year, restored the advantage with goals in the 35th and 39th minute.

The visitors’ night worsened when Mourad Batna was sent off just before halftime.

However, Ittihad also went down to 10 men on the hour when goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was dismissed for fouling Fahad Al Zubaidi. Sofiane Bendebka converted the penalty to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The tense finale was settled in stoppage time when Muhannad Al Shanqeeti fired home, sealing Ittihad’s second straight win and keeping them top of the early standings with six points from six.

Blanc, who was honored pre-match with the 2024-25 RSL Manager of the Season award, will have been pleased to see his side score nine goals in their opening two league fixtures despite Benzema’s absence.

Elsewhere, Asian champions Al Ahli were held to a goalless draw away at Al Ettifaq, while Al Shabab edged Al Hazem 1-0 in Riyadh thanks to Yannick Carrasco’s clinical finish after the hour mark.