Al Ittihad extended their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season by easing past Al Wehda 3-0 on Monday night, but the victory was soured somewhat by an injury to star striker Karim Benzema.
Benzema, the reigning Ballon d'or holder, was forced to leave the pitch towards the end of the first half and Ittihad have confirmed that the 35-year-old Frenchman has sustained a muscle injury. Benzema appeared to land awkwardly when challenging for the ball and fell to the turf clutching his leg.
The injury means Benzema is a doubt for Friday's Saudi clasico between Ittihad and Al Hilal.
"The team captain and star player, Karim Benzema, was forced to leave the field during the first half of the match against Al Wehda Club ... because of a muscle injury," Ittihad posted on social media.
"He will be undergoing medical tests in the upcoming hours to precisely diagnose the injury and determine the required course of treatment."
Benzema was replaced by fellow summer signing Jota and the Portuguese winger made his mark on the match by scoring Ittihad's second goal in the 67th minute, finishing from a tight angle after latching on to classy pass from playmaker Igor Coronado.
Four minutes earlier, Brazilian forward Romarinho had broken the deadlock with a superb long-range strike.
Romarinho then had a hand in Ittihad's third goal when he played the ball into Coronado's path in the 73rd minute, but his fellow Brazilian still had plenty of work to do. Fortunately for Coronado, the Wehda defence did not put him under pressure and he was able to carry the ball into the penalty area unchallenged before firing into the bottom corner.
The victory at King Abdul Aziz Stadium was Ittihad's fourth from as many games and the Jeddah giants are yet to concede a goal this season, their stingy defensive record a reflection of a high-quality midfield base comprising N'Golo Kante and Fabinho.
Ittihad could be further strengthened before the end of the transfer window, with the club still heavily linked with a move for Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.
"We are very disappointed with the result, with the outcome of the game," Ettifaq manager Gerrard said. "We have no complaints; we deserved to be beaten on our performance. But I take full accountability and responsibility.
"Second half we asked the team to raise the technical level, to be brave, to play without fear. There was a marked improvement in the 45 minutes - we had one or two moments where if we scored it could have been interesting.
"But all in all, our performance wasn’t strong enough tonight to get a result against a really strong team."
Al Hilal ensured they did not lose further ground on Ittihad by beating Al Ettifaq 2-0 to inflict the first defeat of Steven Gerrard's Saudi Pro League career.
Hilal may still be waiting on record signing Neymar to make his debut, but the 18-time league champions still possess more than enough quality in the Brazilian forward's absence following a remarkable summer transfer window.
Two of those new signings combined to open the scoring when, in the 24th minute, Brazilian forward Malcom ran on to Aleksandar Mitrovic's headed knock-down and struck a first-time finish into the bottom corner. It was Malcom's fourth goal of the season following his opening-day hat-trick against Abha.
Saudi Arabia international Salem Al Dawsari, who caught global attention with his spectacular winning goal against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, scored Hilal's second shortly before half time with a superb volley from the edge of the area.
With new Saudi Arabia manager Roberto Mancini watching on inside the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, it was the ideal time for Al Dawsari to score his first home goal of the season.
Also in action on Monday night, Abha defeated Al Feiha 2-1 and and Al Raed beat Al Riyadh 3-0.
Al Ahli will aim to move level on points with Ittihad on Tuesday night when Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Co take on Al Ta'ee, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr host Al Shabab.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
DC%20League%20of%20Super-Pets
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more from Janine di Giovanni
THE%C2%A0SPECS
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