Karim Benzema Scores Again As Al-Ittihad Qualify For Arab Club Champions Cup Quarter-Finals

Karim Benzema made it two goals in two games for Al-Ittihad by scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Tunisia's Club Sfaxien on Sunday.

Benzema had also netted the winning goal on his Al-Ittihad debut three days earlier when the Saudi Pro League champions beat another team from Tunisia, ES Tunis, 2-1.

The 35-year-old found the net on Sunday with a classy two-touch finish that concluded with him aiming a low half-volley into the net via the inside of the post.

Club Sfaxien ended the game with just nine players.

Hussein Ali Al-Saedi was sent off just before half-time following an incident which saw his right boot collide with the right cheek of Tarek Hamed, who required surgery to treat a gruesome-looking facial injury.

Balla Moussa Conte was later dismissed in the 84th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the match.

Al-Ittihad have now qualified for the quarter-finals of the Arab Club Champions Cup with a game to spare.

The Jeddah side will win Group A as long as they do not lose to Iraqi champions Al-Shorta on Wednesday.

If Al-Ittihad do lose then they will finish second.

Either way they will face a team from Group B in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Karim Benzema pictured applauding fans at King Fahd Stadium after scoring in a 1-0 win for Al-Ittihad over Club Sfaxien on Sunday night

Twitter/@ittihad_en

Al-Ittihad's potential opponents in the last eight include Qatar's Al Sadd, Morocco's  Wydad or Al Ahli from Tripoli in Libya.

Nuno Espirito Santo's team could also meet Saudi rivals Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals.

But - after taking just one point from their first two group games - Al-Hilal must beat Wydad on Wednesday to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout phase.