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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Ittihad facing Navbahor in Champions League</li><li>Benzema sent header into his own goal</li><li>Has been linked with Saudi exit</li></ul>

Karim Benzema’s blushes spared! Ex-Real Madrid forward heads into his own net in horror own-goal but Al-Ittihad recover to win AFC Champions League clash

Saudi Pro League

Al Ittihad

Al Fateh FC

Benzema was picked to start up front as Ittihad took on Uzbekistani side Navbahor in the second leg of their round of 16 tie on Thursday. The first game ended in a 0-0 draw but Benzema inadvertently gave Navbahor the lead in the second by sending a header beyond his own goalkeeper at a set-piece. Ittihad, though, recovered, as a strike from Abderrazak Hamdallah and a Toma Tabatadze own goal gave them a vital win.

WHAT HAPPENED?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Karim Benzema has just scored an own goal! Al Ittihad are losing 1-0 &amp; as things stand are heading out of the AFC Champions League!<a href="https://t.co/Hx9QwqtNRR">https://t.co/Hx9QwqtNRR</a>— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNassrZone/status/1760704091724951812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WATCH THE CLIP

It has been reported that Benzema is currently unhappy at Ittihad and he was linked with a shock move within the Saudi league, to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/karim-benzema-join-cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-in-talks-saudi-based-club-leave-al-ittihad/blt9820b7f5aa4a625e#csb44180984d68edb7" target="_blank">Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr</a>, in the January transfer window. The former Real Madrid star was also linked with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/karim-benzema-erik-ten-hag-rules-out-man-utd-anthony-martial-injury-ffp/blt908ed9c4ac72180d#cs4d5f3835594c98ec" target="_blank">Manchester United</a>, although the Red Devils quickly distanced themselves from those rumours.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Once Thursday's AFC Champions League tie is finished, Benzema will gear up for this weekend's clash with Al-Wehda. They are currently fifth in the Saudi Pro League, a massive 22 points off leaders Al-Hilal.

WHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA?

Karim Benzema’s blushes spared! Ex-Real Madrid forward heads into his own net in horror own-goal but Al-Ittihad recover to win AFC Champions League clash | Goal.com

Karim Benzema&apos;s Al-Ittihad nightmare has gone from bad to worse, as the France legend scored an own goal in the AFC Champions League on Thursday.