In one of the most anticipated matches of the Saudi Professional League season, known as the "Saudi Clasico," French star Karim Benzema, the Al-Ittihad striker, delivered a performance that fell short of expectations, earning one of the lowest ratings among his teammates in the match against arch-rivals Al-Hilal. The game, played at the Kingdom Arena as part of the 22nd round of the competition, ended in a resounding 3-1 victory for Al-Hilal, deepening Al-Ittihad's woes and raising further questions about the performance of their star player.
Benzema played the full match, but his impact in the attacking third was extremely limited. According to global player rating networks, Benzema received a modest rating of around 6.6 out of 10, reflecting his limited contribution. He failed to seriously threaten goalkeeper Yassine Bounou's goal, lost possession on several occasions, and appeared isolated from his teammates. This lackluster performance comes at a crucial point in the season, as Al-Ittihad hoped to close the gap with league leaders Al-Hilal, but the result and the performance have made the task even more difficult.
General context and historical background
The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ittihad match is more than just a football game; it represents the pinnacle of the historic rivalry in Saudi football. Both teams enter each encounter with motivations that extend far beyond simply securing three points, as it is intertwined with pride and dominance. The arrival of Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2013 was seen as a game-changer, boosting the club's ability to defend its title and seriously challenge Al-Hilal. However, Benzema's first season was fraught with challenges, including recurring injuries and reports of a lack of cohesion, placing his performances in high-stakes matches like the derby under particular scrutiny.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Domestically, the result effectively ended Al-Ittihad's hopes of competing for the league title, while further cementing Al-Hilal's lead as they continued their remarkable run and historic winning streak. As for Benzema, this performance intensified the criticism leveled against him by fans and pundits, who had placed great hopes on his experience and abilities to lead the team in such crucial matches. Internationally, the world is closely watching the performances of the big stars in the Saudi league, and any disappointing performance from a player of Benzema's caliber opens the door to discussions about how well these stars are adapting to the new environment and the different challenges of the Saudi league, which in turn impacts the overall image of the ambitious Saudi sports project.
