Ronaldo and Benzema share hug in tunnel earlier than Saudi giants meet

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema took the armbands and shared a hug within the tunnel on their returns to their sides’ beginning line-ups for the showdown between title hopefuls Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr within the Saudi Professional League at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis on Friday.

2022 Ballon d’Or winner Benzema has scored 10 occasions in 9 video games for his membership this season however missed 4 of their earlier 5 league matches via damage.

Ronaldo, who has received probably the most prestigious particular person prize in soccer six occasions, has 15 membership targets this season however was rested for Al-Nassr’s last-gasp 2-1 residence defeat to Qatari group Al Sadd within the AFC Champions League on Monday as a result of that they had already progressed within the competitors.

The pair have been teammates at Actual Madrid between 2009 and 2018. Ronaldo is the membership’s all-time prime scorer with 450 targets, instantly forward of Benzema’s 354.

🤝🥹#RoshnSaudiLeague #ITTNAS pic.twitter.com/q23iafkbOU

— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 6, 2024

Ronaldo vs Benzema

Having posed for images with Ronaldo earlier than the beginning, Benzema kicked the sport off for the hosts, who started two factors above Al-Hilal on the prime of the desk after successful 11 of their opening 12 league video games.

Al-Nassr had gone greater than a yr with out a league away defeat, final shedding on the highway at reigning champions Al-Hilal on December 1 2023.

Sport recognise recreation 🤝#RoshnSaudiLeague #ITTNAS pic.twitter.com/WCMvPLC4lz

— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 6, 2024

Prolific ahead Talisca was not named in Stefano Pioli’s matchday squad amid stories linking the Brazilian with a transfer to Turkish title challengers Fenerbahce.

Two-time African Footballer of the 12 months Sadio Mane supported Ronaldo in assault, with different star names within the lineup together with Spain defender Aymeric Laporte, who joined the membership from Manchester Metropolis in 2023.

Soak all of it in. That is peak #RoshnSaudiLeague drama 🔥#ITTNAS, on in just a few moments ⌛️ pic.twitter.com/X046YI61Ld

— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 6, 2024

Al-Ittihad: Kante, Fabinho amongst starters

Al-Ittihad had hoped Moussa Diaby would return after three video games out with an ankle sprain however the former Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was once more absent.

New supervisor Laurent Blanc nonetheless had a raft of high-profile to name upon behind Benzema, together with Netherlands worldwide Steven Bergwijn and Algeria hotshot Houssem Aouar.

Right here’s Jeddah! 🙌📍pic.twitter.com/NArzTve4NY

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 5, 2024

Former Chelsea and Leicester Metropolis linchpin N’Golo Kante began alongside Fabinho – as soon as of Liverpool and Monaco – in midfield.

Portugal’s Danilo Pereira was a part of a defence coming into the match on a run of six clear sheets, with Al Hilal’s shock 3-2 defeat at Al-Khaleej on November 23 serving to Al-Ittihad transfer above them.

Al-Nassr began eight factors behind the leaders in fourth place. Third-placed Al-Qadsiah inflicted their first defeat of the season on November 22.