Following the Christmas break, Al Ittihad will be presented with a significant test. Karim Benzema and Co. will look to come back on the winning track against Al Nassr after enduring a shock loss against Al Raed yesterday. As they gear up to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Co., Al Ittihad has been presented with a major setback. 

On the other hand, Al Nassr will continue to keep their winning streak alive as they brim with confidence after defeating Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq 3-1. 

A huge setback for Karim Benzema and Co. before facing Al Nassr

Al Ittihad will face Al Nassr for their Saudi Pro League clash on December 26. But just hours before the match, they had been dealt a major injury blow. Sadly, Al Numoor won’t be able to deploy their two left-backs, Ahmed Bamsaud and Zakaria Hawsawi, who both are sidelined due to injury. This adds to their current injury woes, as they already have their all center-backs Omar Hawsawi, Aseel Abed, Luiz Felipe, Ahmed Hegazy and Suwailem Al-Manhali injured. Furthermore, Al Ittihad right-back Muhannad Shanqeeti is recuperating from his undisclosed injury while Madallah Alolayan is suspended for this clash. 

This means the club will be forced to play the match against Al Nassr without any central defenders and both right and left backs. Indeed, it presents a difficult task for Marcelo Gallardo, as the majority of his backline is sidelined. Already, the club is sitting in sixth place in the Roshn Saudi League. They are also coming off a Club World Cup failure, having lost the second elimination round against Egyptian side Al Ahly. Nevertheless, Al Ittihad would be looking to trouble Al Nassr. But all eyes will be on Ronaldo and Benzema as both former teammates lock horns against each other. 

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Cristiano Ronaldo vs Karim Benzema: a feisty battle

Two ex-Real Madrid teammates, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, will be facing each other in an exciting clash. The captains of respective sides will look to dominate the contest. Speaking of Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar is in red-hot form. He is leading the top-scorer charts with 17 goals. 

On the other hand, Benzema has scored just nine goals for Al Ittihad in the Pro League. The Frenchman was earlier slammed by his coach Marcelo Gallardo for failing to score in the Club World Cup clash. Nevertheless, he’ll look to hit back at his critics, including his own gaffer. Who do you think will win the battle between Benzema and Ronaldo? Let us know in the comments. 

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