Al-Ittihad 4-1 Al-Hilal: Bergwijn and Benzema among the goals in huge win

Al-Ittihad thrashed Al-Hilal 4-1 to open a seven-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League, with Steven Bergwijn and Karim Benzema among the goals.

Bergwijn scored twice as Laurent Blanc’s men overturned an early deficit to claim a statement win at King Abdullah Sport City, marking themselves out as title favourites.

Al-Hilal – who went unbeaten when winning the title last season – went ahead when Marcos Leonardo turned Joao Cancelo’s cross home in the 23rd minute.

But that advantage only lasted six minutes as Hassan Kadish levelled, then Bergwijn put Al-Ittihad 2-1 up with a powerful finish on the stroke of half-time.

Bergwijn made it 3-1 after being teed up by N’Golo Kante early in the second half, and despite Al-Hilal bossing possession and firing off 16 shots to the hosts’ five in the second half, there was more woe to come for the champions late on.

Benzema met Moussa Diaby’s deep corner with an instinctive volley in the 86th minute, finding the bottom-right corner to kill off any slim hopes of an Al-Hilal comeback.

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— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) February 22, 2025

Data Debrief: Benzema matches Ronaldo

Benzema’s late strike was the icing on the cake for Al-Ittihad as they earned their fourth straight victory, and their 15th in their last 17 league games (one draw, one defeat).

The Frenchman’s goal was his 16th in the Saudi Pro League this season, drawing him level with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts.

Benzema has needed two fewer appearances than Ronaldo to hit that mark, also doing so from a lower expected goals (xG) tally (13.1 to Ronaldo’s 16.6) and with a better shot conversion rate (21.6% to 18%).

Al-Hilal, meanwhile, have now won just one of their last five league matches (two draws, two defeats) after winning their previous five in a row.