Karim Benzema expressed being “proud of this team and our fans” as Al Ittihad secured the Saudi Pro League title, marking a major achievement for the Jeddah-based club.
The club sealed their 10th league crown with a 3-1 comeback victory over Al Raed on Thursday, clinching the title with two matches to spare.
With this win, Al Ittihad moved to 77 points from 32 matches, creating a nine-point gap over second-placed Al Hilal.
The triumph gave Laurent Blanc’s side their first league title since 2023. However, the match didn’t begin smoothly—already-relegated Al Raed took the lead in the 9th minute with a close-range strike by Omar Gonzalez, as an injured Karim Benzema watched from the sidelines.
Al Ittihad quickly responded. Steven Bergwijn equalised 12 minutes later following a setup by Abdulrahman Al Oboud, who broke down the right wing to assist the Dutchman.
Shortly before halftime, Danilo Pereira headed the ball home to give Al Ittihad the lead. Just two minutes into the second half, Abdulrahman Al Oboud scored again to put the game beyond doubt.
The Jeddah giants now eye a potential double, as they face Al Qadsiah in the King’s Cup final on May 30.
Following the title-clinching match, Benzema celebrated on social media, writing on X, “Alhamdulillah, Champions! Proud of this team and our fans.” The French striker had set clear goals at the start of the season, aiming for silverware—and those ambitions have now borne fruit.
“This season, we’re all pulling in the same direction,” Benzema had said earlier. “We have just one objective: to do well and win trophies. We all work together.”
He also emphasized the team’s unity, highlighting how the squad had evolved with player departures, new arrivals, and a new coach. “The group is living well… we all have just one objective: to win.”
— V.2 Editorial Team
