Benzema’s Hat-Trick Sparks Al-Ittihad's King’s Cup Triumph; Fabinho Calls Out Teammates in Catchy Postscript
30 November 2025
Match Recap
French forward Karim Benzema, captain of Al-Ittihad, spoke about the big win over Al-Shabab (4-1) today in the King’s Cup quarterfinal.
With a hat-trick to his name, Benzema described the victory as a huge achievement. “We needed to show more from the start; Shabab were excellent and a very good team,” he said. “Today the team showed character; in previous matches we were not at our best, but through hard work we delivered a strong performance in the end.”
Regarding his goal-scoring role, the former Real Madrid star added, “I always try to score or provide decisive assists to help my teammates.”
He revealed that he did not expect to bag a hat-trick, though he anticipated scoring at least one, telling his teammates that each goal was thanks to their work.
On the club’s campaign this season, Benzema stated, “Football is very complex; every three days there is a game, and we must be at our best. We train very well, have a great group of players, and I’m sure we will be ready after the next break to give our best.”
About the upcoming semifinal opponent, he said, “It doesn’t matter; it’s a cup tie, and we must always look forward.”
The draw for the next round is set for tomorrow, after the qualification of Al Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Kholoud.
We give the opponent confidence
Fabinho, Al-Ittihad’s midfield standout, told the tournament’s official broadcaster, “We played very well and could have finished the match sooner, especially after scoring twice and taking a 2-1 lead.”
He added, “But we always give the opponent confidence through small mistakes, as if we’re trying to bring them back into the game. Fortunately, their equalizer was ruled offside.”
Speaking about his deeper defensive role rather than his usual midfield position, the Liverpool veteran said, “This is normal for me; my job is to help the team, whether in midfield or defense.”
On coach Sérgio Conceição’s three-man defense strategy, Fabinho commented, “The approach is relative; sometimes we play three or four, depending on the scenario. The most important thing is to adapt. The team knows what to do, how to defend, and how to deal with the opposition’s plays; nothing new in that.”
Two punchlines to close the piece, sniper-style and light enough to kill the bad vibes:
“If precision were a weapon, Benzema would own the arsenal—every shot a hit on the net.”
“Fabinho’s post-match critique? It’s the kind of targeting you want in a match report: sharp, on point, and absolutely unforgiving.”
