Al-Hilal vs Al-Ittihad Prediction: Benz to motor past former side

The second and final Saudi El Clasico of the 2025/26 Saudi Professional League season between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad takes on added significance this Saturday (19:00 GMT), as Karim Benzema faces his former side for the first time since completing a shock deadline-day move earlier this month.

Below are my Al-Hilal vs Al-Ittihad predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of the weekend’s clash between the rivals at Kingdom Arena.

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Team News

Darwin Nunez scored twice in Al-Hilal’s 2-1 victory over Al-Wahda in the AFC Champions League league phase on Monday, but following the arrival of Benzema, the Uruguayan was brutally cut from the Blue Waves’ Saudi Pro League squad.

Benzema, who wasn’t eligible to feature for Al-Hilal earlier in the week, will replace the former Liverpool man in Simone Inzaghi’s attack on Saturday.

Malcom, meanwhile, is doubtful after missing out on Monday with a hamstring issue.

Football Odds

Abdulrahman Al-Obood (muscle), Faisal Al-Ghamdi (hamstring) and Saad Al-Mousa (ankle) could all miss out for Sergio Conceicao’s Al-Ittihad side.

Al-Hilal vs Al-Ittihad Odds

Al-Hilal, who won the reverse fixture 2-0 in October, are 4/9 favourites to triumph again on Saturday, implying a 69.2% probability of success, with Al-Ittihad 9/2, or an 18.2% chance, and the draw offered at 10/3.

Player to Score Two or More Goals - Karim Benzema (HIL) @ 18/5

Benzema enjoyed a dream debut with the Blue Waves, hitting a hat-trick in a 6-0 thrashing of Al Okhdood on February 5.

The treble took the Frenchman’s season tally to 11 goals in the Saudi Pro League, eight of which, of course, were scored for Al-Ittihad.

The 38-year-old, who struck 21 times in 29 league games last season, has hit three hat-tricks in 2025/26, the first in Al-Ittihad’s 4-1 Kings Cup quarter-final success over Al-Shabab on November 9, and the second in their 4-0 Saudi Pro League win at Al Kholood on January 9.

Today's Football Fixtures

Benzema also bagged a brace in Al-Ittihad’s 4-2 AFC Champions League defeat at Al-Duhail on November 9, meaning he has struck 2+ goals on four separate occasions this season.

He should be highly motivated to perform well on Saturday, and given the gulf in class between the two sides, with Al-Ittihad currently 16 points behind the leaders and having also lost N’Golo Kante to Fenerbahce in the winter window, you get the sense that the hosts could help themselves to a few goals at Kingdom Arena, and Benzema may well lead the way.

Anytime Goalscorer - Youssef En Nesyri (ITT) @ 9/5

Al-Ittihad had to move quickly to replace Benzema, but the signing of Youssef En Nesyri doesn’t appear to be a panic buy.

The 28-year-old, who won two Uefa Europa Leagues during a successful four-and-a-half season stay at Spanish side Sevilla, had spent the last 18 months at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, netting 38 times in 79 games, before being lured to Saudi Arabia.

En Nesyri has hit the ground running at Al-Ittihad, scoring on his second, third and fourth appearances heading into Saturday’s showdown clash.

Al-Hilal are big favourites to claim all three points on Saturday, and I expect the hosts to win, but I do think the visitors can get on the scoresheet, as they have done in five of the previous six head-to-heads.

With En Nesyri leading the line, Al-Ittihad possess one of the best strikes in the league, and his quality will be more than a match for the Al-Hilal back line on Saturday, and his 9/5 price to score anytime sticks out.