The much-anticipated showdown between Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi King Cup ended with victory for the Frenchman. Al Ittihad, led by Sérgio Conceição, defeated Al Nassr 2–1 to advance to the quarterfinals, eliminating Jorge Jesus’ side, who couldn’t carry their strong league form into the cup.

Benzema Scores and Finds His Smile Again

After a shaky start to the season, Karim Benzema rediscovered his scoring touch at the perfect time. The French striker opened the scoring for Al Ittihad, proving he still shines in big moments. His goal restored confidence to the reigning Saudi champions, who managed the match intelligently and efficiently.

Al Nassr responded through Brazilian forward Angelo, who capitalized on a rebound inside the box to equalize around the half-hour mark. However, Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar put the visitors back in front with a composed finish past goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, silencing the home crowd and leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s side on the ropes.

Ronaldo Left Without a Goal… and Without the Cup

Despite Al Nassr’s 22 shots—five of them on target—the home team failed to break through Al Ittihad’s disciplined defense, which held firm even after going down to ten men following Al Julaydan’s red card early in the second half.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo tirelessly chased his 951st career goal but couldn’t find the back of the net. His frustration was evident in the final minutes, as Al Nassr pushed forward desperately but without success. The elimination means Ronaldo misses out on another title opportunity in Saudi Arabia, although his team still leads the Saudi Pro League with six consecutive victories.

Meanwhile, Al Ittihad celebrates their qualification for the quarterfinals and a victory that could mark a turning point in their season. Currently seventh in the league with ten points, Sérgio Conceição’s side will look to regain the consistency that crowned them champions last year.

In other results, Al Qadisiya, managed by Spanish coach Míchel, advanced after a 3–1 win over Al Hazem, with a brace from Mexican forward Julián Quiñones and a goal from Italo-Argentine Mateo Retegui. Additionally, Al Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi, also booked their place with a narrow 1–0 victory over Al Okhdood, thanks to a strike from Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo.

The King Cup moves forward, and for now, it has delivered a major twist: Cristiano Ronaldo knocked out by his old rival Karim Benzema, adding yet another chapter to a rivalry that never seems to end.