Victim of a muscle injury, Karim Benzema did not participate in the quarter-final first leg of the Asian Champions League lost by Al-Ittihad against Al-Hilal (2-0) on Tuesday evening. “KB9” hopes to make his return for the second leg next week.
Victim of muscular discomfort in his right leg, Karim Benzema withdrew last Friday during the “Clasico” of the Saudi championship against Al-Hilal. For a 3-1 defeat against the broad leader of the Saudi Pro League. The 2022 Ballon d’Or did not find Marcelo Gallardo’s group during the quarter-final first leg of the Asian Champions League against the same team. Another defeat, with a score of 2-0 this time.
Al-Hilal thus took an option on qualification by beating this Al-Ittihad without “KB9”. Aleksandar Mitrovic (40th from a penalty) and Salem Al Dawsari (42nd) scored before half-time, then N’Golo Kanté left Al-Ittihad at 10 against 11 after a nasty sole on Kalidou Koulibaly (66th). The 2018 world champion’s second red card in his career, the first since an exclusion with Caen in August 2014!
The return match next Tuesday
Benzema had not been announced forfeit by Marcelo Gallardo, Ittihad coach, on the eve of the match, and is therefore continuing his recovery phase in order to return to training soon. To see if it will resume on Friday when Al-Akhdoud comes to Jeddah, only 13th in the Saudi championship. And especially if he will be ready for the return leg against Al-Hilal next Tuesday!
As a reminder, the former captain of Real Madrid, 36, was taken aback by the supporters of the reigning Saudi Arabian champion. The former French international had not really found his place under the orders of Nuno Espirito Santo, who gave as much importance to Abderrazak Hamdallah and Romarinho, who carried Al-Ittihad last season. Benzema has 9 goals and 6 assists in 17 league matches. Cristiano Ronaldo has 22 goals with Al-Nassr…
