Al Ittihad crowned Saudi Pro League Champions after 3-1 win over Al Raed

Al Ittihad have officially clinched the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League title following a dominant 3-1 comeback victory over already-relegated Al Raed on matchday 32 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. The win pushes Al Ittihad to an unassailable 77 points, securing the championship with two games to spare.

Al Raed strike early, but Ittihad roar back

The match started with a surprise twist as Oumar Gonzalez gave Al Raed a ninth-minute lead, momentarily silencing the home crowd. But Al Ittihad, led by head coach Laurent Blanc, quickly regained control of the game.

In the 21st minute, Abdulrahman Al Aboud assisted Steven Bergwijn, who calmly slotted in the equalizer to make it 1-1. The momentum swung completely in Ittihad’s favor when Danilo Pereira headed in the go-ahead goal in the 40th minute, following a precision cross from Unai Hernandez.

Just after the break, Al Aboud capped off his stellar performance by scoring in the 47th minute, sealing a 3-1 lead that would remain untouched for the rest of the match.

Al Ittihad end title drought, outpace rivals

With this decisive result, Al Ittihad are now nine points clear of Al Hilal, who still have two matches left to play. However, Ittihad’s superior head-to-head record ensures they cannot be overtaken, granting the Jeddah-based club their first league title since the Roshn Saudi League rebranding.

This triumph is especially sweet considering the club’s disappointing fifth-place finish in the 2023/24 season, where they ended 42 points behind champions Al Hilal. This season, they took the top spot on matchday 19 and never looked back, riding a wave of consistency and tactical discipline.

Karim Benzema shines in Championship season

Although he missed the title-deciding match, Karim Benzema has been instrumental to Al Ittihad’s successful campaign. The former Real Madrid striker has recorded 21 goals and 9 assists in 28 matches, ranking him as the league's second-highest scorer, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo’s 23 goals.

The 2024/25 Saudi Pro League title is Benzema's first major trophy since joining Al Ittihad in June 2023, marking a pivotal milestone in his post-Europe career.

What’s Next for Al Ittihad?

With the league title secured, Al Ittihad will now shift focus to finishing strong in their final two matches and preparing for continental competitions. Laurent Blanc's side will also look to reinforce their squad ahead of next season’s AFC Champions League return and continue building on this season’s success.