How did Karim Benzema fare in his Asian Champions League debut?

Those who confidently proclaimed that Al-Ittihad would become an unstoppable force after the signing of former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema are now finding themselves the subject of ridicule.  

The reigning champions of Saudi Arabia suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat at the hands of Air Force Club in Iraq during the Asian Champions League on Monday. This unexpected outcome came just days after Benzema and his teammates experienced a 1-0 loss against Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League.  

Al-Ittihad’s struggles have extended beyond these recent matches, as they have failed to secure a victory in their last six outings. As a result, there is growing speculation that head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure at the club may be in jeopardy.

Benzema, donning the captain’s armband, featured for the entire 90 minutes against the home side, who finished runners-up in the previous season’s Iraqi Premier League. However, the French superstar struggled to make his presence felt on the pitch. Just like his teammates, he was taken aback by the spirited performance displayed by their opponents, who thoroughly outshone the esteemed visitors.  

Before the halftime whistle, Ali Jasim capitalized on a well-deserved opportunity to break the deadlock and give the hosts the lead, leaving Nuno visibly frustrated. Despite an improved performance from Santo’s side in the second half, Benzema remained a peripheral figure, failing to pose any significant threat.  

To make matters worse, Mohannad Abdulraheem extended the hosts’ advantage with a brilliant close-range drive, sealing their second victory in the campaign.

For Benzema, however, the night proved to be one he would rather forget. The former talisman of Real Madrid had been absent from Al-Ittihad’s opening 3-0 win over AGMK from Uzbekistan in September and their 1-0 victory against Jawiya in October. 

Finally making his eagerly anticipated debut in the Asian Champions League, Benzema hoped to make a significant impact. Unfortunately, the outcome was far from what he had envisioned, as the match turned into a total disaster for him and his heavily invested team.  

With their attention now shifting to the upcoming Saudi Pro League encounter against Abha on Friday, the pressure mounts for Al-Ittihad to reverse their recent poor run of form. If they cannot turn things around, the burden on Benzema will continue to grow, making his situation increasingly unbearable.