Al-Ittihad Dominates Al-Riyadh 2-0: Benzema Strikes Again

Al-Ittihad returned to winning ways with a commanding 2-0 victory over Al-Riyadh at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Thursday evening. The result provides much-needed relief for manager Sergio Conceição, who had been searching for his first league win since taking charge of the reigning Saudi Pro League champions last month.

Benzema Breaks the Deadlock

Karim Benzema once again proved his worth to the Jeddah-based club, opening the scoring in the 24th minute with a clinical finish that showcased why Al-Ittihad invested heavily in the former Real Madrid striker. The French forward has been the attacking catalyst for the Tigers throughout the season, and his leadership on the pitch continues to be invaluable despite the team's inconsistent form.

The home side controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, dominating possession with 65% of the ball and limiting Al-Riyadh to virtually no attacking threat. The visitors failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes, highlighting the defensive solidity Al-Ittihad displayed under Conceição's guidance.

Own Goal Seals Comfortable Victory

Al-Ittihad doubled their advantage just before halftime when Al-Riyadh's Mohammed Alkhaibari inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 42nd minute. The own goal effectively ended the contest, allowing the hosts to manage the second half comfortably and secure all three points.

According to match statistics from FOX Sports, Al-Ittihad registered seven shot attempts with three on target, while Al-Riyadh failed to test goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic even once. The home side also edged the corner count 3-2 and committed fewer fouls, demonstrating their control throughout the match.

Breaking a Troubling Winless Streak

This victory comes at a crucial time for Al-Ittihad, who had endured a difficult spell entering the match. The team had gone five league games without a win, a run that included their disappointing 1-0 defeat to local rivals Al-Ahli in the Jeddah derby just before the international break. Riyadh Mahrez's solitary goal in that match had left Sergio Conceição still searching for his maiden league victory as Al-Ittihad's manager.

The Portuguese tactician had managed four league games prior to Thursday's encounter, drawing two and losing two, which saw the Tigers slip to eighth place in the Saudi Pro League standings with just 11 points from eight matches. While their AFC Champions League campaign has shown more promise—with two wins from four games—domestic form had become a pressing concern for a club with championship aspirations.

Al-Riyadh's Struggles Continue

For Al-Riyadh, the defeat extends their miserable record against Al-Ittihad. According to data compiled by Red94, the Tigers have now won four consecutive meetings between the sides and remain unbeaten in their last seven encounters dating back to 2005. In fact, Al-Ittihad holds an impressive 8-0 all-time record against Al-Riyadh in league competition, having never drawn with them.

Javier Calleja's side currently occupies 12th place in the league table with just eight points from eight matches. Their away form has been particularly concerning, with only one point collected from four road games this season. The 1-1 draw against Damac FC in their previous outing—where they surrendered a lead late on—exemplified their struggles to see out matches.

Tactical Adjustments Pay Dividends

Conceição fielded a 4-4-2 formation featuring a strong midfield presence with N'Golo Kanté partnering Fabinho in the center. The inclusion of attacking threats Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Diaby on the flanks provided width and creativity, while Ahmed Al Ghamdi supported Benzema in attack.

The manager was forced to cope without Fabinho for this fixture after the Brazilian midfielder received a red card in the 32nd minute of their previous match against Al-Khaleej. However, the team's performance suggested that Al-Ittihad is beginning to find cohesion under their new tactician.

Looking Ahead: Playoff Push Intensifies

This victory is crucial for Al-Ittihad's ambitions of climbing the Saudi Pro League standings and securing a strong finish to their campaign. As Telecom Asia Sport noted in their pre-match analysis, the team needed to "get back to winning ways" after their troubling spell, and this comprehensive performance against Al-Riyadh provides the foundation for building momentum.

The psychological boost of finally securing Conceição's first league win cannot be understated. The Tigers will hope this result marks a turning point in their season as they look to close the gap on the league leaders. Currently sitting in eighth place, Al-Ittihad trails league leaders Al-Nassr by 13 points, though the season remains relatively young with plenty of fixtures still to play.

Head-to-Head Dominance Continues

The head-to-head statistics heavily favor Al-Ittihad, who have averaged 2.8 goals per game in their meetings with Al-Riyadh. Betting markets reflected this dominance, with major bookmakers assigning Al-Ittihad a 73% win probability before kickoff. The visitors' inability to even register a shot on target validated these predictions and underscored the gulf in class between the two sides.

ESPN India's match data confirmed Al-Ittihad's superiority across all key metrics. The clean sheet for Rajkovic was routine given Al-Riyadh's lack of attacking intent, while the defensive partnership of Danilo Pereira and Hassan Mahbub looked comfortable throughout. Mario Mitaj at left-back and Muhannad Al-Shanqiti on the right provided adequate width while maintaining defensive discipline.

Conclusion

Al-Ittihad's 2-0 victory over Al-Riyadh represents more than just three points in the standings. It marks the beginning of what the club hopes will be a sustained recovery under Sergio Conceição's management. Karim Benzema's continued scoring form and the team's defensive solidity provide reasons for optimism as the season progresses.

For Al-Riyadh, the visit to Jeddah always represented a daunting challenge given their historical record against the Tigers. With survival likely to be their primary concern this season, Javier Calleja must find solutions to their attacking impotency and poor away form if they hope to avoid relegation troubles.

As both teams continue their Saudi Pro League campaigns, Al-Ittihad can now build on this victory with renewed confidence, while Al-Riyadh must regroup and focus on picking up crucial points in more favorable fixtures ahead.