Al-Ittihad Triumphs in Saudi League Opener; Malcom Shines with Hat-Trick for Al-Hilal
Al-Ittihad, the reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League, made a spectacular start to their title defense as they defeated Al-Raed by an impressive 3-0 margin on Monday. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s Malcom showcased his brilliance by scoring a fantastic hat-trick, securing a 3-1 victory over Abha.
Under the guidance of coach Nuno Espirito Santo, Al-Ittihad fielded a formidable lineup that featured Ballon d’Or winner and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema leading the attacking line, accompanied by midfield stalwarts N’Golo Kante and Fabinho.
Although Benzema couldn’t find the back of the net, he played a crucial role in the team’s opening goal. After a goalless first half, the Frenchman delivered a well-timed tackle in midfield, initiating a swift counter-attack. With precise passing, he set up Abderrazak Hamdallah on the wing, who effortlessly converted the chance and broke the deadlock just before the 60th-minute mark.
Boosted by the lead, Al-Ittihad continued to dominate the game. Brazilian midfielder Igor Coronado showcased his skills by scoring two goals within six minutes. First, he combined excellently with a teammate, curling a beautiful shot past the outstretched goalkeeper in the 73rd minute. Then, he capitalized on a rebound from a long-range strike by Kante to seal the victory.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal put aside their recent disappointment in the Arab Club Champions Cup final and started their league campaign with a 3-1 win over Abha. The team’s star player, Malcom, stole the spotlight with a mesmerizing performance.
It was Malcom who broke the deadlock for Al-Hilal, scoring the opening goal just after the half-hour mark. Salem Aldawsari released a precise pass into the left channel, drawing the goalkeeper out of position, and allowing the Saudi winger to find Malcom, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
However, Abha retaliated swiftly as captain Saad Bguir unleashed a stunning long-range effort that sailed over the keeper, resulting in an equalizer just two minutes later.
In the second half, Malcom once again showcased his prowess, restoring Al-Hilal’s lead. His low shot trickled into the goal, eluding the grasp of Abha’s keeper, Devis Epassy. Finally, Malcom completed his hat-trick in style, executing a powerful volley into the bottom corner.
In another match, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr is set to face off against Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq later today.