Saudi League standings after Ronaldo sparks comeback win for Al Nassr as Benzema scores own goal
FootballBenzema Suffers More Misery As Iraqi Side Hand Al Ittihad Unexpected Loss in AFC Champions League
- Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad endured a shocking defeat in the AFC Champions League
- The reigning Saudi champions stumbled to a 2-0 loss against Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
- Despite the defeat, Ittihad remain at the top of Group C with 9 points, followed by Al-Quwa, who have 7 points
Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya intensified the pressure on Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad during the fourth round of the AFC Champions League on Monday, November 6.
The defending Saudi League champions, who have struggled to replicate their former prowess in recent games, suffered a 2-0 defeat in the return leg of their Group C encounter against Al-Quwa.
Having narrowly clinched a victory over the same opponents two weeks earlier, courtesy of a last-gasp winner from Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, as noted by Arab News, the Tigers were anticipated to secure consecutive triumphs against the oldest existing club from Iraq.
Al-Quwa stun Al-Ittihad in ACL tie
However, they were caught off guard by their opponents' spirited display, who dominated the first half.
Before the half-time whistle, forward Ali Jasim capitalized on a deserved opportunity to draw first blood for the home side, much to the frustration of Al-Ittihad's manager, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Despite an improved performance from Santo's team in the second half, their efforts, led by Karim Benzema, failed to yield any goals.
Adding insult to injury, Mohannad Abdulraheem extended Al-Quwa's lead, securing their second victory in the Asian Champions League campaign.
The defeat compounds the recent run of poor results for the nine-time Saudi champions, who have failed to secure a win in their last two matches across all competitions.
What's next for Benzema's Al-Ittihad?
With just two victories from their last five games, their recent dip in form is becoming increasingly apparent.
Their focus now shifts to the upcoming Saudi Pro League fixture against Abha on November 10, per Sofascore, where they will aim to reverse their recent misfortunes.
Al Nassr vs Al Duhail: Michael Olunga faces Cristiano Ronaldo in AFC Champions League
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Benzema's market value declines
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the latest Saudi Pro League market values are in, and it doesn’t make good reading for some of football’s big-name players.
Benzema, who left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad, has seen his value drop by €10m. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner is now only valued at €15m in the latest stats.