Karim Benzema, vincitore dell'ultimo Pallone d'Oro, è stato subito decisivo per la sua nuova squadra, l'Al-Ittihad. La partita vinta 2-1 contro l'Esperance Tunisi, giocata allo stadio Re Fahd, era valida per la Coppa Campioni Araba, competizione a cui partecipano tutti i club campioni dei rispettivi campionati dei Paesi appartenenti al mondo arabo, in un formato simile alla Champions.
KB9, come già lo chiamano i suoi nuovi tifosi, ha prima fornito l'assist vincente ad Hamdallah per la rete dell'1-1, poi al 55' ha realizzato il gol del 2-1 addomesticando il pallone con il destro e poi scagliando un tiro, sempre di destro, nell'angolo alto a sinistra della porta. Il 35enne è poi stato sostituito al 71', ricevendo una standing ovation da parte del pubblico.
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