'We played like champions' - Fabinho on major night in RSL title race | OneFootball

Al Ittihad midfielder Fabinho praised his team’s “champion” spirit as they moved ever closer to the Roshn Saudi League title after a potentially momentous night of action at the top of the table on Monday.

The RSL leaders were given a huge boost even before their home clash with Al Ettifaq in Jeddah, when second-placed Al Hilal dropped points against Al Shabab in the Riyadh Derby at Kingdom Arena.

Al Hilal, the current champions, had fought back from Daniel Podence’s superb early strike to lead 2-1, thanks to goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al Dawsari.

However, Al Shabab defender Mohammed Al Shwirekh headed home a Cristian Guanca corner on 68 minutes to earn the visitors, themselves chasing a top-four finish, a 2-2 draw.

Not long after that result was confirmed, Al Ittihad took to the pitch at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium knowing victory would send them six points clear at the summit with five rounds remaining.

Yet Laurent Blanc’s side found themselves 1-0 down as early as the fifth minute, when Vitinho’s deflected shot from range found its way past home goalkeeper Mohammed Al Mahasnah.

The lead, though, lasted only six minutes. Houssem Aouar’s deep corner found Karim Benzema at the back post, with the Al Ittihad captain volleying the ball back across goal for Danilo Pereira to prod home.

Benzema then placed his side in front not long after the half hour. Vitinho’s misplaced pass sent the Ballon d’Or winner through, who then kept his composure to finish past Marek Rodak.

It marked Benzema’s 18th goal of the RSL season, as he continues to chase Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals) in the race for the golden boot.

In first-half injury-time, Al Ittihad made it 3-1 following a sublimely worked team goal, with Moussa Diaby eventually squaring from Aouar to send the home fans wild in celebration.

With a 14th goal created upon his debut RSL campaign, Diaby increased his advantage at the top of the 2024-25 assists charts to two – ahead of Al Hilal captain Al Dawsari.

Still, the RSL frontunners were made to sweat late on, when Al Ettifaq captain Georginio Wijnaldum headed home seven minutes before full-time to continue his own fine campaign.

To their credit, Al Ittihad held on for what could prove to be a decisive victory. Given they have a superior head-to-head goal difference to Al Hilal this season, the Jeddah giants now need only three wins from their final five matches to be crowned champions for the second time in three years.

Speaking after the significant triumph, Fabinho told the SPL: “The important thing today is three points. It was very important to bounce back after the last game [a shock 2-0 defeat at Al Fateh].

“We played at home with our fans; that is always helpful and very nice for us. So yes, we played well, scored three goals. Could we score more to let the game be maybe a bit easier? OK, but a good three points and we keep going.”

Fabinho, a league winner in England with Liverpool, said Al Ittihad had once again shown the resolve that has been a hallmark of their title run thus far.

“In this part of the season, we need everybody to show up,” he said. “We need us, the most experienced players, to show up to fight to the end. And if you have to suffer, we need to do it as well.

“Yes, we have to play as a champion side. And tonight we did it.”

Asked about the belief his side gleaned from Al Hilal dropping further back in their bid to retain the top-flight trophy, the Brazilian replied: “Yes, very good confidence. At this point of the season, we could be maybe 10 points ahead or maybe two points ahead, but six points is a very good advantage.

“There's five games to go. So we need [three] wins. So, let's keep going. Let's keep fighting now. We have 16 days without a game [Al Ittihad’s next match against Al Nassr is delayed because of the latter’s Asian Champions League Elite commitments].

"And, yes, let's just try to rest and prepare to the last games of the season.”