Al-Ittihad Striker Karim Benzema opens his goalscoring account for the club on the third matchday of the Saudi Pro League season on Thursday.
Former Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, who became one of the biggest names to move to the big-spending Saudi Arabian league this summer, struck the opening goal in Al Ittihad’s 4-0 win at Al Riyadh.
The former Real Madrid striker led a breakaway for the visitors in the 17th minute before finding the top corner of the net for his first goal in the competition following two scoreless outings.
Abderrazak Hamdallah later netted a brace before Benzema assisted Saleh Al-Jamaan to put the seal on the emphatic win in second-half stoppage time and send Al Ittihad top of the nascent league table.
Al-Hilal’s Aleksandr Mitrovic was also on the scoresheet as his team ran out 4-0 winners on Matchday three. The striker scored on his debut after securing a big money move to the Middle East.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Riyad Mahrez set up ex-Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessié to head in a stoppage-time winner for Al Ahli at home to Al Okhdood.
Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq missed a chance to join Al Ahli and Al Ittihad on maximum points from three games after they could only draw at home to Al Khaleej.
