Benzema Makes a Return: Al Ittihad Eye King Cup Semifinal as Diaby Serves Suspension
27 November 2025
Benzema cleared for the King Cup clash against Al Shabab
Recent reports confirm that Karim Benzema is fully fit for Al Ittihad’s upcoming King Cup quarterfinal against Al Shabab, set for Saturday at Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Stadium in Jeddah. Benzema participated in full-group training today without any restrictions, easing concerns after a lighter session yesterday and signaling both physical and technical readiness for the decisive tie.
Earlier, his absence from yesterday’s pre-match routine sparked anxieties among fans, but today’s session put those worries to rest and reinforced confidence in his contribution to the match.
In the main training, all foreign players were present except Moussa Diaby, who is suspended. Manager Sergio Conceicao focused on tactical setups and plans to face Al Shabab, with special attention on strengthening the attack—the area the team relies on most in this fixture.
Suspension of Moussa Diaby
Disciplinary authorities announced Diaby’s two-match ban following a red card in the 2-1 win over Riyadh in the Roshen League’s ninth round, after a VAR review. The offense came from a dangerous, off-ball challenge on a Riyadh defender.
Diaby had delivered a strong performance prior to the sending-off, including a cross that set up Benzema’s goal in the 24th minute. The red card in the second half paused his night and left Al Ittihad without a key attacking weapon.
According to the disciplinary decision, Diaby will miss one league match and an additional domestic competition in which Al Ittihad participates, ruling him out of the quarterfinal against Al Shabab. Notably, this is Diaby’s second red card since joining the club, the first being against Al Nassr last May after a clash with opponents’ players.
Diaby’s discipline tally has contributed to Al Ittihad’s rising red-card count this season, making them the most cautioned team in Saudi football with six dismissals across league, ACL, and the King’s Cup. Fittingly, Al Fateh and Al Shabab trail with four red cards each.
Foreign players and lineup considerations
Al Ittihad currently lists 12 foreign players, while King Cup rules limit participation to 10. With Diaby suspended, Conceicao will have to decide which foreigner to exclude from the final squad based on readiness and on-field needs for the Al Shabab clash.
The coach is set to finalize the lineup after tomorrow’s final training, weighing player form, fitness, and positional requirements. The prevailing expectation is a strong attacking approach, with Benzema likely to start, as part of a bid to secure a place in the semifinals.
The prevailing belief is that Conceicao will deploy the strongest available attacking unit, leveraging Benzema’s readiness from the outset to push for an early advantage and control the proceedings against a dangerous Al Shabab side.
Punchlines aside, the stakes are clear: a strong performance in this King Cup tie could reignite Al Ittihad’s title push and keep Benzema’s era in full swing in Saudi football.
Two snappy parting shots for good measure: If Benzema keeps finding the net, the goalposts may need a warranty extension. And if Diaby keeps getting sent off at this rate, maybe he should start bringing a chair to the bench—purely for dramatic effect.
