2025-12-23
The French Karim Benzema gave this Tuesday to Al Ittihad his third victory in the Champions League Asia, in six games played, with the only goal of the match against Nasaf Opposite Uzbek.
This victory comes almost a month after the last game played by the Portuguese boys Sergio Conceição (4-1 against Al Shabab in the league), and leaves the Al Ittihad in sixth place in the western table of the competition with 9 points.
A regular phase that leads the Al-Hilal directed by Italian Simone Inzaghi and in which the Al Ahly Algerian Riyad Mahrez is third.
Although those of Conceição They had control of the ball throughout the match, the chances were shared in both areas, but Benzema broke the tie in the 57th minute with the final goal.
The next challenge of Al Ittihad It will be on December 29 again against Al Shabab, but in the King’s Cup.
WHY DON’T CR7 PLAY THE ASIAN CHAMPIONS?
Cristiano Ronaldo y Al-Nassr They are not disputing the AFC Champions League Elite in December 2025 because the Saudi club failed to qualify for the main Asian tournament through the local league. In the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season, Al-Nassr finished outside the positions that grant direct access to the top continental competition, leaving the team without a presence in the most important Asian Champions League.
As a consequence, the Saudi team participates in the AFC Champions League 2a lower-ranking continental competition. In this tournament, the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo It has been intermittent, mainly due to technical and rotation decisions, focused on the physical management of the player and the planning of the competitive calendar.
