Are you watching Nuno? Karim Benzema scores a hat-trick to help Al-Ittihad return to winning ways… Just days after the collapse that saw the former Spurs boss sacked
- Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as Al-Ittihad defeated Abha in the Saudi Pro League
- Win came days after the row between Benzema and former boss Nuno
- What is the WORST hat-trick in the Premier League? – Find out It all comes to the surface
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick for Al-Ittihad just days after an alleged row with Nuno Espirito Santo saw the former Spurs boss sacked as manager.
The ex-Real Madrid striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot on Friday before scoring two more goals in the second half to help his side to a 4-2 victory against Abha.
Al-Ittihad’s win ends a five-match winless streak in the league that contributed to the Benzema-Nuno feud.
Following a midweek defeat to Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Juwiya in the AFC Asian Champions League, the pair reportedly had a heated argument in the dressing room.
Nuno, who won the Saudi Pro League title earlier this year, was sacked just two days after the defeat.
Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick to help Al-Ittihad to a 4-2 win against Abha in the Saudi Pro League on Friday
Former Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked as manager of Al-Ittihad this week after an alleged row with Benzema
He could only lead the team to two wins in nine games in all competitions in his final weeks in charge.
Al-Ittihad signed N’Golo Kante and Fabinho alongside Benzema in the summer and they currently sit well behind in the hunt for the league title.
Their poor recent form has seen them fall eleven points behind leaders Al-Hilal.
However, they had something to smile about on Friday when Benzema led them to victory against mid-table Abha.
The 35-year-old put his side ahead in the 38th minute when he confidently guided a penalty past former Fiorentina and AC Milan goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu in the Abha goal.
Benzema is now the third highest goalscorer in the Saudi Pro League this season, ahead of only Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandr Mitrovic
One-time Lyon striker Karl Toko Ekambi leveled Abha five minutes into the second half, but Al-Ittihad quickly hit back through Brazilian Igor Coronado.
Benzema then gave his side an unassailable lead, coolly firing home after a run through on goal, before tapping in an unselfish pass from Coronado.
The hat-trick moved the French striker into joint third place in the top scorer rankings, with only Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandr Mitrovic finding the net more than him.
Fahad Bin Jumayah pulled one back for Abha late on, but it wasn’t enough to stop Benzema making headlines for the second time this week.
