Veteran French star Karim Benzema made a spectacular debut for Saudi club Al-Hilal during the 2025/2026 winter transfer window. Benzema led his new team to a resounding 6-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud on Thursday evening, scoring a hat-trick that confirmed his readiness to spearhead the attack of the league leaders.

This strong start for Benzema comes after the termination of his contract with Al-Ittihad, a deal that generated considerable discussion in sporting circles. Ironically, Benzema had already opened his scoring account this season with Al-Ittihad, netting a hat-trick against the same Al-Akhdoud team in the first round, a match that ended in a 5-2 victory for Al-Ittihad. This made Al-Akhdoud a favorite victim of the French star when he wore the jerseys of the two Saudi Arabian football giants.

Benzema didn't just score goals; he also broke records that had stood for years in the Saudi Professional League. With the final whistle of the match in round 21, Benzema became the first player to score a hat-trick for his new team, which he joined in the winter transfer window, since the 2009-2010 season, equaling the record of Moroccan Abdelkarim Benhenia. He also became only the seventh player in history to score a hat-trick in his debut match for a new team in the Saudi Professional League.

In a unique historical precedent, the 38-year-old became the first player in the league's history to score a hat-trick against the same opponent while playing for two different teams in a single season. He is only the third player overall to score two hat-tricks against the same opponent in one season, after Syrian Omar Al-Somah (against Al-Raed in 2015-2016) and Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah (against Al-Raed in 2018-2019). However, Benzema stands out as the only player to have achieved this feat with two different clubs.

On a personal level, and compared to his illustrious European career, Benzema achieved his fastest scoring start with Al-Hilal of any club he has played for. He found the net after just 31 minutes in his debut match, before adding two more goals in the 60th and 64th minutes. This start surpasses his debut with Al-Ittihad, where he scored after 54 minutes, and is significantly faster than his debut with Real Madrid, where he waited until his third match to score, and with Lyon, where he scored his first goal in his tenth appearance.

This strong performance reflects the great technical value that the former Ballon d'Or holder adds to the ranks of "Al-Za'eem" and enhances Al-Hilal's chances of winning the league title and competing strongly on all levels, confirming that Benzema's passion for scoring is still burning brightly in Saudi stadiums.

Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens tomorrow evening, Saturday, for the highly anticipated match between Al-Fateh and Al-Qadisiyah, which concludes the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This encounter carries added significance, not only because it's a battle for three points to improve their standings, but also because it represents a mini-derby for clubs in the Eastern Province, adding a special, passionate atmosphere and attracting large crowds.

Before the opening whistle, the statistics reveal the contours of the historical rivalry between the two teams. Head-to-head records indicate a slight advantage for Al-Fateh, who have dominated in a greater number of matches compared to Al-Qadisiyah. This historical advantage puts Al-Fateh under pressure to maintain their positive record, while giving Al-Qadisiyah added incentive to break the deadlock and close the gap in their head-to-head record.

According to official statistics from previous encounters, the two teams have met in 20 matches across various domestic competitions, and the results of these encounters are as follows:

• 9 victories in favor of Al-Fateh team, reflecting its high ability to win derbies in recent years.
• 6 victories and is striving to increase its tally of victories and get closer to its competitor's record.
• Five matches ended in a draw, indicating that competitiveness was present in approximately a quarter of the encounters between the two teams.

This match comes amidst the significant development witnessed by the Saudi Professional League, where every game has become a major sporting event attracting widespread local and regional attention. The Saudi League is no longer merely a local competition; it has transformed into a global arena featuring elite players, thus elevating the technical value of each encounter. In this context, Al-Qadisiyah aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans, as well as their current form, to close the historical gap, while Al-Fateh aspires to maintain their dominance and secure all three points, which could prove crucial in their league campaign this season.

Tomorrow’s match is not limited to the 90 minutes on the pitch, but is an extension of a long history of fair competition between the two prestigious clubs, as the sports fans await crucial details that may change the digital map of direct confrontations between them.

In a remarkable development within the corridors of the Saudi Al-Hilal club, Uruguayan professional Darwin Nunez has made his final decision regarding his future with the club, rejecting the official offer presented to him by the Turkish club Fenerbahce to join its ranks during the current winter transfer window, which is still open in the Turkish league, sparking widespread controversy in sports circles.

Details of Fenerbahce's offer and Nunez's stance

The interest of the prestigious Turkish club in signing Núñez stemmed from the current situation in Al-Hilal's attack, especially after the Riyadh-based club announced the signing of veteran French striker Karim Benzema. Fenerbahçe's management anticipated that Benzema's arrival would reduce Núñez's playing time, potentially facilitating his departure. However, the Uruguayan striker surprised everyone with his shocking decision to stay and compete for his place in the Al-Hilal squad, affirming his commitment to his contract and his desire to win more titles with the Blue team.

Flamengo of Brazil and the financial obstacle

Fenerbahçe wasn't the only club vying for Núñez; Brazilian side Flamengo had also entered the negotiations earlier. Reliable Brazilian journalist Gabriel Urvão revealed the behind-the-scenes details that led to the deal's collapse, indicating that Flamengo's management had indeed inquired about the possibility of loaning the player. Urvão explained via his social media accounts that the main obstacle was Núñez's hefty salary at Al-Hilal, amounting to €16 million annually—a figure exceeding the financial capabilities of South American clubs, making the transfer virtually impossible.

Nunez's numbers and his career with Al-Hilal

Darwin Nunez, 26, joined Al-Hilal from Liverpool in a high-profile transfer last summer, part of Saudi Arabia's major sporting boom aimed at attracting top international stars. Since donning the blue jersey, the international player has featured in 22 matches across all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing 5 assists for his teammates, accumulating a total of 1487 minutes of playing time. While opinions vary on his goal-scoring record, his determination to stay reflects his desire to improve his statistics and prove his worth alongside the team's established stars.

General context and impact of global deals

This activity in the transfer market is part of the overall landscape of the Saudi Professional League, which has become a preferred destination for the world's top football stars. The presence of names of the caliber of Karim Benzema and Darwin Núñez in the same team enhances Al-Hilal's competitiveness not only domestically, but also continentally and globally, and presents the coaching staff with the positive challenge of selecting the optimal lineup to ensure continued dominance in championships.