Benzema & Al-Ittihad Eliminate Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr | Saudi Arabia Cup

Al-Ittihad Stuns Al-Nassr,Eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo from Saudi Arabian Cup

Defending champions Al-Ittihad advanced to the quarter-finals of the Saudi Arabian Cup after a dramatic 2-1 victory over cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Tuesday,October 28,2025,effectively ending the Portuguese superstar’s hopes of silverware with his current club this season. The Round of 16 clash, played on Al-Nassr’s home pitch, saw a compelling contest decided by goals from Karim Benzema and Houssem Aouar.

The match began with a swift statement from Al-Ittihad, as Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d’or winner, opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a well-placed finish assisted by Moussa Diaby. Tho, Al-Nassr, currently leading the Saudi Pro League, responded swiftly. A quarter of an hour later, a coordinated attack involving Ronaldo and Angelo resulted in an equalizer for the home side (1-1, 30th minute).

Did you know? – Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo have a long history of playing together, most notably at Real Madrid. They combined for numerous goals during their time as teammates in spain.

Aouar’s Late Strike and a Contentious Red Card Shift Momentum

Just before halftime, former Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Houssem Aouar struck for Al-ittihad, putting the visitors ahead once again (1-2, 45th+2).The second half brought further drama,as al-Ittihad’s Ahmed Al-Julaydan received a red card in the 49th minute,leaving his team to defend their lead with ten men. Despite being considerably outnumbered in posession – controlling the ball only 33% of the time – and facing 22 shots from Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad held firm.

Pro tip: – Playing with a man advantage doesn’t guarantee victory. Al-Nassr’s inability to capitalize on Al-Ittihad’s reduced numbers proved costly.

Ronaldo Frustrated as Trophy Wait Continues

Ronaldo, who recently celebrated his 950th career goal, was unable to find the back of the net and appeared visibly frustrated throughout the match. The defeat marks a significant setback for Al-Nassr, who, despite their dominant league form with six wins from six matches, will not be competing for the Saudi Arabian Cup this season. Consequently,Ronaldo’s pursuit of his first trophy with the club will continue.

For Al-Ittihad, currently 7th in the saudi Pro League, the quarter-final qualification offers a welcome boost. The defending champions will look to build on this momentum as they navigate the remainder of the competition.

Reader question: – Do you think Al-Nassr’s reliance on Ronaldo is a strength or a weakness? Share your thoughts on how they can improve.

Here’s a breakdown answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:

Who: Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Nassr. Key players included Karim Benzema and Houssem Aouar for Al-Ittihad, and Cristiano Ronaldo for Al-Nassr.Ahmed Al-Julaydan of Al-Ittihad received a red card.

What: Al-Ittihad won 2-1 against Al-Nassr in the round of 16 of the Saudi Arabian cup.This victory eliminated Al-Nassr from the competition.

Why: Al-Ittihad advanced to the quarter-finals while concurrently ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s immediate hopes of winning a trophy with Al-Nassr. Al-Nassr, despite dominating possession, failed to