Two goals in two minutes: Benzema and Ronaldo light up Saudi derby

Friday night brought a nostalgic twist for Real Madrid fans, as former teammates Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo squared off as rivals for the first time since their time at the Santiago Bernabéu,

Benzema’s Al Ittihad hosted Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in a thrilling Saudi Pro League encounter.

Both stars left their mark on the game, scoring within two minutes of each other. Benzema opened the scoring in the 55th minute, converting a low cross from a swift counter-attack on the right. Less than two minutes later, Ronaldo responded with a clinical finish, tapping in Angelo’s precise delivery to bring the score to 1-1.

The match was tense, with tempers flaring as Ronaldo had to calm Benzema during a heated exchange with Otavio. However, it was Benzema who had the final say, as Al Ittihad’s former Tottenham forward Bergwijn struck in stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory.

The win solidifies Al Ittihad’s position at the top of the table, extending their lead to five points over Al Hilal and eleven points ahead of Al Nassr, who remain in fourth place. For fans of the ‘Blancos,’ this clash was a reminder of their former stars’ enduring quality.