Kicking off in the matchweek's final slot, fans of the RSL were made to wait to see how Al-Ittihad would begin their title defence. Well, the champions answered pretty emphatically.

At an expectant Prince Hathloul Sports City, Laurent Blanc's men were 2-0 up inside the first seven minutes, first through captain Karim Benzema’s header and then Steven Bergwijn’s finish.

But, to their credit, Al Okhdood kept at it. The hosts halved the deficit just before the half hour, through Colombian Juan Sebastian Pedroza, but their joy was short-lived. Two minutes later, Saaed Al Rubaie deflected Bergwijn’s free-kick into his own goal.