"When we talk, we do" - Karim Benzema reacts as Al-Ittihad knock Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr out of King's Cup 

Karim Benzema starred with a goal as 10-man Al-Ittihad defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr 2-1 in the Round of 16 of the King’s Cup on Tuesday, October 28. Al-Nassr enjoyed possession from the off, but their front three, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, and Sadio Mane, failed to deliver in the final third despite playing almost 45 minutes of the match with an extra man on the pitch.

The two sides had already met in the Saudi Pro League this season, with Al-Nassr coming out on top with a 2-0 win. After Benzema’s 15th-minute goal, Angelo Gabriel restored parity for the Knights of Najd at the half-hour mark in the King's Cup game.

However, Hossam Aouar’s goal in first-half stoppage time proved to be the match-winner for Al-Ittihad. Al-Nassr came out guns blazing in the second half, but Al-Ittihad’s defense proved a hard nut to crack.

After the match, Benzema posted a picture of himself celebrating his goal on social media, captioning it:

“Big win tonight.. Important for the team and our fans 🐅 When we talk we do ☝🏼🟡⚫️.”

Speaking after the match, Benzema said:

"It was a big game against a very good team. It was not easy to win here because Al Nassr did great today but, from the first minute, we showed we wanted to win this game. We did exactly what the coach said before, and we are happy because we showed it’s still here."

The goal saw Benzema take his tally for Al-Ittihad to four goals in seven appearances this season. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s trophyless drought in Saudi Arabia continues, as he has now failed to win any of the 13 official titles he has contested since joining Al-Nassr.

Jorge Jesus defends Cristiano Ronaldo after King’s Cup exit

Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus refused to throw Cristiano Ronaldo under the bus after they crashed out of the King’s Cup at home. Ronaldo played the entirety of the match but didn’t really impress.

When asked about the Portuguese superstar’s performance after the game, Jesus said (via 101greatgoals):

”This is our third match against Al-Ittihad. We won two and lost one. The first half was balanced and after the red card we looked for the draw, but we couldn’t find it. Our problem today was not Cristiano, but tiredness and exhaustion. We must not forget that we played against a strong and excellent team, champion of the League and the Cup. The defeat had nothing to do with tactical issues, but with a great match between two teams, each of them looking for victory.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr will now shift their focus to the Saudi Pro League as they prepare to face Al Feiha in their next fixture. They currently sit atop the league standings with 18 points, winning all six of their matches so far.