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Watch Karim Benzema Score Superb Winning Goal On Al-Ittihad Debut

Karim Benzema scored one goal and assisted another on his Al-Ittihad debut in a 2-1 win against ES Tunis. Watch Benzema score brilliantly from outside the box.

Robert Summerscales

Watch Karim Benzema Score Superb Winning Goal On Al-Ittihad Debut
Watch Karim Benzema Score Superb Winning Goal On Al-Ittihad Debut /

Karim Benzema scored one goal and assisted another to help Al-Ittihad record a 2-1 win on his debut for the Saudi Arabian champions.

Fifty-one days after his transfer from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad had been announced, Benzema started in Thursday's Arab Club Champions Cup group game against Tunisian side Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

Fellow summer signing N'Golo Kante also made his Al-Ittihad debut on Thursday when he came on as a half-time substitute.

Tunis took the lead in the 26th minute when winger Oussama Bouguerra found the top corner with an excellent half-volley from 16 yards.

But Al-Ittihad were level nine minutes later when a cross from Benzema was met by the head of Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah, who had ended last season as the Saudi Pro League's top scorer.

Hamdallah will have a lot more competition for the Golden Boot this season, not least from Benzema.

The former Madrid star's first goal in Saudi Arabia was spectacular. After running with the ball down the left flank, he cut inside and curled a stunning right-footed strike beyond the reach of the Tunis keeper from outside of the penalty area.

Video: Benzema's First Al-Ittihad Goal

Karim Benzema pictured (center) celebrating after scoring his first goal for Al-Ittihad during a 2-1 win over ES Tunis in July 2023
Karim Benzema pictured (center) celebrating after scoring his first goal for Al-Ittihad during a 2-1 win over ES Tunis / SSC

Next up for Benzema and Co will be another game against Tunisian opposition on Sunday when they take on Club Sfaxien.

Al-Ittihad's last group game at this year's Arab Club Champions Cup - which is being hosted by Saudi Arabia - will be against Iraqi champions Al-Shorta SC next Wednesday.

The final of the tournament will take place on August 12 - two days before Al-Ittihad are due to play their first game of the new Saudi Pro League season.

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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.