Hat-Trick Hero Benzema Sends Al-Ittihad Cruising to a 3-0 Win
10 January 2026
Match recap
Al-Ittihad, led by Karim Benzema, defeated Al-Kholoud 3-0 at King Abdullah Sports City in Buraydah, in the 14th round of the Saudi Pro League.
Benzema bagged a hat trick in the 13th minute via a penalty, then in the 28th and 35th minutes.
The 38-year-old forward has now reached 15 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions this season.
Key moments
In the eighth minute, Al-Kholoud's William Troost-Ekong was sent off with a red card, forcing the hosts to finish the game with ten men.
Saudi football expert Mohammed Kamal Risha said the red card was deserved for denying a clear scoring opportunity and that the 11th-minute penalty for Al-Ittihad was correct after Maoulida handled the ball.
Al-Ittihad sit sixth with 23 points, while Al-Kholoud are twelfth with 12 points.
Punchline 1: Karim Benzema did not just score; he filed a hat-trick tax return to upgrade the scoreboard.
Punchline 2: If football had a speed limit, Benzema just went into overtime and boosted the scoreline to 3-0.
