European Flair on Saudi Turf: Nunez Faces Benzema, Kanté and Diaby in a European-tinged Derby

European-flavored clash returns to the Saudi stage

All eyes are on the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah as the sixth round of the Saudi Pro League brings the classic Al Ittihad vs Al Hilal showdown. Friday night promises drama, intensity, and a touch of Europe as crowds fill the stands with banner-waving fervor and high expectations from both sides.

Al Ittihad sit fifth with ten points, one behind fourth-placed Hilal, while leaders Al Nassr hold 15. The clash at the "Al-Inma" is therefore doubly significant for staying in the title hunt.

The encounter is not just a domestic duel between Jeddah's giants; it carries a distinctly European flavor this time, thanks to the upcoming duel between Darwin Nunez, Hilal's Uruguayan striker, and a trio of European stalwarts in Al Ittihad—Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Moussa Diaby. They have crossed paths on European soil before crossing paths again on Saudi turf.

Headliners: Nunez, Benzema, Kanté, and Diaby

On August 9, 2025, Hilal officially announced the signing of Darwin Nunez from Liverpool on a contract through 2028, a move valued around €53 million, becoming one of the defining transfers in the club's and league's history.

Nunez closed his Liverpool chapter after three fruitful seasons, playing 143 games, scoring 40 goals and providing many assists, helping the club win the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.

With Hilal, Nunez has hit the ground running, featuring in six matches across competitions and tallying four goals and two assists. His goals have come against Riyadh, Qassim, and Al-Ettifaq, with a crucial strike against Qatar's Duhail in the AFC Champions League.

Against Benzema: the Champions’ duel renews

The derby also features a personal clash between Nunez and Karim Benzema, who faced each other twice in the 2022-23 Champions League when Nunez was at Liverpool and Benzema led Madrid. In the first leg at Anfield, Real Madrid triumphed 5-2, with Nunez scoring early while Benzema struck twice and assisted. In the return, Benzema’s decisive goal in Madrid sent Liverpool out of the competition.

Since joining Al Ittihad in 2023, Benzema has played 67 matches across competitions, scoring 41 goals and providing 17 assists. This season he has 3 goals in 5 appearances as he seeks to stabilize form ahead of the clash with Hilal.

Diaby: the French duel renews

Moussa Diaby has faced Nunez twice in the 2023-24 Premier League, when Nunez represented Liverpool and Diaby was with Aston Villa. In the opening game of the fourth round, Nunez helped Liverpool win 3-0 with two assists, including one for Mohamed Salah. In the second game, a dramatic 3-3 draw featured a Diaby assist to Jordan Duran, who previously played for Al Nassr.

Diaby joined Al Ittihad in 2024 on a five-year deal as part of a major project to restore the club to trophy-winning heights, and he did lift the league title with them last season.

So far, Diaby has appeared 37 times for the team, scoring 6 goals and providing 21 assists, including five assists and one goal this season, establishing himself as a key playmaker in Sergio Costa's lineup.

Kanté: a European cornerstone

The third anticipated clash will pit Nunez against his former Chelsea teammate N'Golo Kanté, who used to marshal Chelsea's midfield when Nunez faced him at the 2022-23 round. Since joining Al Ittihad in 2023, Kanté has been a core pillar, featuring in 87 games with 9 goals and 10 assists; this season he has played 8 matches with one goal.

A European-flavored derby

This edition of the Al Ittihad–Hilal classic is steeped in European narratives. Every touch by Nunez, Benzema, Diaby, or Kanté carries the weight of old battles in England and Spain, now reimagined on Saudi soil under the banner of the Saudi Pro League.

Expect this clash to be one of the season's most watched, given its massive crowd influence and its side stories reviving European football glories, all inside Saudi Arabia's vibrant football scene.

Punchline 1: If this derby were a transfer window, it would be open all night—and somehow still not open the defense. Nice try, though.

Punchline 2: In football, the sharpest move is usually a pass—followed by me misplacing the remote again and pretending it was a tactical timeout.