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It didn’t take long for Youssef En-Nesyri to make an impact in Saudi Arabia. His great performance in Al-Ittihad’s 7-0 thrashing of Al-Gharafa has everyone talking, with the Spanish press even suggesting he’s successfully stepped out of Karim Benzema’s shadow. The Spanish daily Marca commended the Moroccan striker’s performance, writing that he “made people forget Karim Benzema.”
It was a dream home debut for En-Nesyri at a packed Alinma Stadium. He opened the score in the very first minutes, clinical as ever, setting the tone for what turned into a 7–0 win after teammate Muhannad Al‑Shanqeeti delivered a low cross into the box, which En‑Nesyri finished with a slight deflection off Ababacar.
This AFC Champions League Elite win does wonders for Al-Ittihad’s position in Group B. It gives them a massive edge heading into their final group game against Tractor: a winner-takes-all game that will officially decide who moves on to the knockout stage.
“En‑Nesyri made people forget Benzema,” Marca claimed, suggesting that the Moroccan has already erased the memory of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
“The start could not have been better,” En-Nesyri admitted after the whistle. He was clearly thrilled, not just with his own goal, but with how the whole team stepped up.
Le premier but d’En Nesyri en LDC asiatique ! pic.twitter.com/6azSpK5qHR
— SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) February 10, 2026
Joining mid-season from Fenerbahçe, the 28-year-old was brought in specifically to fill the void left by Benzema. En-Nesyri has built a reputation in La Liga with Sevilla and Málaga as a prolific goalscorer. His international stats are also impressive, with over 90 appearances for Morocco and 25 goals, numbers that make him one of the country’s all-time greats.
En-Nesyri’s Saudi debut is already being clocked as a massive success. More than just the goal, it was energy and rhythm he injected into the front line. As Marca’s headline suggests, he’s wasted no time silencing the skeptics who wondered if he could adapt to a new league after a quiet first appearance.
“It’s a special moment, but there’s still a lot to come,” En‑Nesyri added. “We’re building as a team, and I’m just happy to contribute.”
With such a dominant start, En-Nesyri may just have locked down his spot in the Al-Ittihad starting XI.
Read also: En-Nesyri Scores First Al-Ittihad Goal and Says ‘Better Is Yet to Come’
