Benzema Sparks Ittihad Attack as Shabab Shake-Up Prepares for Saudi Cup Showdown
27 December 2025
Lineups
Sérgio Conceição named the XI for Al Ittihad to face Al Shabab in the eleventh round of the Saudi Pro League.
The coach continues to rely on Karim Benzema up front as captain, with Rogério Fernandes and Steven Berghuis supporting him.
The complete Ittihad lineup left little to surprise.
Goalkeeper Predrag Rajković starts behind a back line featuring Danilo Pereira, Hassan Kadish, Mohand Al-Shenqiti and Mario Metai.
Midfield includes Fabinho Tavares, N'Golo Kanté and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi; attack is layered with Berghuis, Fernandes and Benzema.
On the bench are Abdulaziz Al-Owaiderdi, Mohammed Al-Athebi, Hussein Al-Shaibi, Sultan Al-Anzi, Majid Abdullah, Nawaf Al-Saidi and Vincent Siro.
Al Shabab, under Spaniard Imanol Alguacil, deploys Marcelo Grohe in goal, back four of Nawaf Al-Ghlimish, Mohammed Al-Shwirikh, Wesley Hot and Saad Al-Abed; midfielders Ali Makki, Faisal Al-Sabiiyani, Unai Hernandez; forwards Josh Brownhill, Yasin Adli and Abdullah Mutoq.
Substitutes for Al Shabab include Abdulaziz Al-Awaidi, Mohammed Al-Athebi, Hussein Al-Shaibi, Sultan Al-Anzi, Majid Abdullah, Nawaf Al-Saidi and Vincent Siro.
Ittihad currently sit ninth with 14 points, while Al Shabab have 8 points and sit 13th.
Punchlines: even the ball dodges me.
