A report on Sunday stated that French star Karim Benzema was absent from the match between his Saudi team, Al-Ittihad Jeddah, and its compatriot Al-Hilal, in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. Al Hilal faces its counterpart, Al Ittihad Jeddah, in the first leg at the Kingdom Arena on Tuesday, March 5, and the two teams will meet in the return on March 12 at the Radiant Jewel Stadium. Al-Riyadiah newspaper reported that Al-Ittihad coach Marcelo Gallardo decided to exclude Benzema from the match list, as he was not ready due to a muscle injury, which also kept him from the Saudi League Clasico last Friday. She added that the Argentine coach decided to invite five foreigners to the first leg against Al Hilal, namely Abdul Razzaq Hamdallah, Romarinho, Fabinho, N’Golo Kante, and Ahmed Hegazy.