Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema shared the spotlight once again — but only one of the former Real Madrid stars seized the moment. In a pulsating clash at Al-Awwal Park on Wednesday, Al-Ittihad completed a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Al-Nassr, crushing the hosts’ slim title hopes and sending a message to the rest of the Saudi Pro League.
While Ronaldo faded into the background, his former teammate Benzema led from the front, scoring and igniting the turnaround that could define Al-Ittihad’s championship push. The victory sent Al-Ittihad six points clear at the top with 71 points, while Al-Nassr dropped to fourth — a dramatic twist in a league already brimming with storylines.
The first 45 minutes belonged to Sadio Mane, who was electric throughout. Just three minutes in, the Senegalese winger pounced on a defensive mistake by Abdulelah Al-Amri and drilled home a low strike to give Al-Nassr the perfect start.
Mane’s influence didn’t stop there. In the 37th minute, after dancing through defenders and slipping mid-run, he squared a pass for Ayman Yahya, who made no mistake with a clinical finish. VAR reviewed a potential handball in the build-up, but the goal stood, giving Al-Nassr a seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
Benzema and Kante spark Al-Ittihad’s revival
But the second half flipped the script in spectacular fashion. Just four minutes after the restart, Karim Benzema rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross, pulling one back for Al-Ittihad. The celebration was calm but loaded with symbolism — the quiet leader striking when it mattered most.
Three minutes later, N’Golo Kante brought the scores level with a powerful low strike after a well-orchestrated counterattack. From 2-0 down to 2-2 in seven minutes, Laurent Blanc’s side seized the initiative and pinned Al-Nassr deep into their own half.
The hosts, rattled and disorganized, failed to muster a coherent response. And in the 94th minute, Houssem Aouar pounced on a rebound inside the box and tapped in what proved to be the winning goal. The drama wasn’t over yet — Moussa Diaby was sent off in the dying seconds after tempers boiled over.
Ronaldo’s disappearing act and what it means for the title
On a night built for heroes, Cristiano Ronaldo was eerily absent. The 40-year-old forward was largely ineffective, failing to register any meaningful shots on target or influence the attacking play.
The contrast to Mane — who scored and assisted — was glaring. Despite Al-Nassr’s loss, the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich man was clearly their standout performer, troubling defenders with his pace, vision, and dribbling.
This result could reshape the season. With four games remaining, Al-Ittihad stands poised to clinch the Saudi Pro League title and potentially complete a domestic double, having already reached the King Cup final.
Al-Nassr, on the other hand, faces an uncertain future. With only the top two qualifying for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite, and Al-Ahli securing one spot by winning the continental title, Ronaldo’s side now trails third place by one point.
