Benzema Hat-Trick Sends Al-Ittihad Past Al-Kholood 4-0 In Saudi Pro League

Karim Benzema struck a ruthless first-half hat-trick as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Kholood 4-0 in the Saudi Pro League. The visitors extended their winning run to five league matches. Al-Kholood finished well beaten after playing with 10 players from the eighth minute. The result added further pressure on Al-Kholood, whose home form already looked fragile.

Benzema’s display underlined current form in Saudi Arabia. No player has scored more than Benzema’s seven league goals this season, and two have come in hat-tricks. "Data Debrief: Benzema runs it back" framed the performance. Benzema produced five attempts worth 2.09 expected goals, had nine touches inside the area, and registered three big chances.

Player	Team	Goals	Shots	Expected Goals (xG)	Touches in Box	Big Chances
Karim Benzema	Al-Ittihad	3	5	2.09	9	3

Al-Ittihad’s task became easier almost immediately.

After only eight minutes, Al-Kholood captain William Troost-Ekong brought down Benzema as last defender. The referee initially showed a yellow card, but VAR advised a review. The decision changed to red, leaving the hosts a player short. That incident shaped the remainder of the contest.

Moussa Diaby swung in the free-kick from the edge of the area following Troost-Ekong’s dismissal. A second VAR check followed on 13 minutes when Myziane Maolida blocked Diaby’s strike with a raised hand. The referee awarded a penalty after visiting the monitor. Al-Ittihad gained full control once the spot-kick decision arrived.

Benzema converted the penalty with power, sending the ball beyond goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani. The forward then struck again around the 28th minute, drifting to the far post. Muhannad Al Shanqiti delivered an accurate cross from the right flank. Benzema arrived unmarked and finished calmly from close range for his second goal.

The third goal completed Benzema’s treble on 35 minutes. Diaby drove a low cross into the six-yard box. Benzema timed the run between two Al-Kholood defenders and diverted the ball past Cozzani. Al-Ittihad threatened further before half-time when Steven Bergwijn turned sharply, but Cozzani smothered that attempt and kept the score at 3-0.

Al-Ittihad stayed in control after the interval, managing possession and limiting Al-Kholood’s attacks. Cozzani produced one of the match’s best saves, tipping Benzema’s tight-angle volley wide and denying a fourth individual goal. Al Shanqiti later crashed a long-range strike against the right post. The pressure did not relent despite Al-Ittihad easing the tempo.

Saleh Al Shehri added the final goal late on, finishing a move that developed down Al-Ittihad’s left. Ahmed Al Ghamdi provided a precise low cross into the six-yard area. Al Shehri arrived in space and tapped in from close range. The 4-0 scoreline reflected Al-Ittihad’s dominance with and without the ball.

| #RSL | #Alittihad_Alkholood | Round 14 Congratulations Tigers pic.twitter.com/KDRSOsKPgSAl-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) January 9, 2026

Team	Competition	Current Run	Detail
Al-Ittihad	Saudi Pro League	9 away matches unbeaten	7 wins, 2 draws in last nine league away fixtures
Al-Ittihad	Saudi Pro League	5 consecutive wins	Latest victory a 4-0 success over Al-Kholood
Al-Kholood	Saudi Pro League	5 straight home defeats	Have lost each of their last five home league games

Al-Ittihad’s win extended an impressive away sequence in the Saudi Pro League, with nine road games unbeaten and seven victories. Al-Kholood’s problems deepened as the club slipped to a fifth successive home loss. Benzema’s first-half hat-trick, supported by strong team structure, underlined the gap between the sides on the night.