JEDDAH — Al-Ittihad delivered a statement victory in the Saudi Clasico, dismantling Al-Hilal 4-1 at King Abdullah Sports City on Friday, showcasing their dominance at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Despite Al-Hilal taking the lead early through Marcos Leonardo's goal in the 23rd minute, Al-Ittihad mounted a stunning comeback to command the match.
It was Al-Hilal who initially sparked to life with early chances coming from Salem Al-Dawsari and Sergej Milinković-Savić. Brazilian winger Malcom even forced Al-Ittihad's goalkeeper, Predrag Rajković, to make a pivotal save just minutes before the first goal. Leonardo capitalized on João Cancelo's low cross, scoring and making history as the second-youngest player to find the net in a Saudi Clasico at 21 years old.
Yet, Al-Ittihad quickly turned the match around. Within six minutes of Leonardo's opener, Hassan Kadesh equalized with a powerful header from Moussa Diaby's corner kick. Al-Ittihad kept the pressure high leading up to halftime; Steven Bergwijn followed up on his own rebound to score, making it 2-1 just before the break. This feat established Bergwijn as the first Dutch player to score in the Saudi Clasico.
The second half began explosively for Al-Ittihad as Bergwijn scored again just six minutes after the restart. N’Golo Kanté, showcasing his playmaking prowess, provided a perfect cross to Bergwijn, who clinically finished past Al-Hilal's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, extending the lead to 3-1.
Al-Hilal thought they had narrowed the scoreline when Leonardo struck again around the 70th minute, only for VAR to rule the goal out due to Milinković-Savić's offside. Adding insult to injury, Al-Ittihad also saw one of their own goals disallowed for offside during their celebrations, as Benzema's strike was called back.
The match concluded with Benzema scoring Al-Ittihad's fourth goal. He connected with another perfect delivery from Diaby to finish the game at 4-1, confirming Al-Ittihad's emphatic victory. The final score cemented their commanding performance and ensured VAR did not overshadow their display on the pitch.
With the win, Al-Ittihad extended their lead at the top of the league to 55 points, firmly positioning themselves for the title challenge. The victory marked important redemption for Al-Ittihad, who had previously succumbed to Al-Hilal 3-1 earlier this season and had been knocked out by them during the King's Cup quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal, struggling with two consecutive draws, face tough times as they continue to slip down the standings. The heavy defeat highlighted their recent difficulties as they grapple with maintaining their status as the reigning champions. The match also elicited vibrant support from Al-Ittihad's fans, who displayed a giant tifo reading "Not like us," inspired by Kendrick Lamar's track, set against the backdrop of the thrilling contest.
The atmosphere, amplified by passionate supporters, created a memorable setting at King Abdullah Stadium, illustrating the growing fervor and creativity of football culture within the Saudi league. Al-Ittihad, riding high on this exciting win, look to continue their momentum toward capturing the league title, leaving their rivals reeling.