Saudi Dynasties Crown Asia: Benzema Leads Round 5 Show of Strength
27 November 2025
Round five of the Elite AFC Champions League showcased a strong Saudi imprint as Al Hilal and Al Ittihad dominated the lineup and headlines with standout performances.
Al Hilal hammered Al Shorta of Iraq 4-0, while Al Ittihad fell 2-4 away to Al Duhail of Qatar.
Hilal moved to 15 points at the top of the West Asia group with a perfect record, while Al Ittihad sat on 6 points in eighth place.
Emerging Stars Shine
The SofaScore XI highlighted five players from the Saudi Pro League, with four from Hilal and one from Al Ittihad, and Karim Benzema captaining the side.
The foreign quartet featured Joao Cancelo, Yusuf Akcicek, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Marcus Leonardo.
Cancelo earned the highest rating, 9.8/10, followed by Marcus Leonardo on 9.2, Milinkovic-Savic 8.7, Benzema 8.4, and Akcicek 8.3.
The Best XI and What They Delivered
Goalkeeper: Patrik Beich.
Defenders: Joao Cancelo — Kawaan Santos — Akcicek — Tetsushi.
Midfield: Milinkovic-Savic — Lingard — Tadic.
Attack: Leonardo — Benzema — Polbina.
The Road Ahead
Even as the path to Asia’s crown grows tougher, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad remain determined to lift the continental trophy again, relying on depth, experience and a passionate fanbase.
Both clubs know the Champions League demands consistency, resilience and clever tactics, but their ambitions look undiminished as knockout rounds approach.
Fans provide energy that translates into the pitch, giving these two giants a motivational boost every time they step onto the field.
As the rounds unfold, the road won’t be easy, but the resolve of the Saudi giants suggests the title dream remains within reach.
Punchline: If goals were currency, these teams would be minting money in Riyadh.
Punchline: And if the trophy had a map, it would always route through Saudi Arabia first.
