A Karim Benzema hat-trick helped inflict an embarrassing 7-1 defeat on Josef Zinnbauer's new side in the Saudi Pro League this past weekend.
Check Out: 5 Biggest Stories Of The Weekend
Prior to Al Wehda facing Al Ittihad on Sunday evening, the German tactician had an unbeaten start to his new life in the oil-rich kingdom.
The 54-year-old arrived in Mecca off the back of an invincible season with Raja Club Athletic in the 2023/24 campaign, and started out his career in Saudi Arabia with a 3-3 draw against Al Riyadh.
It got better for the Schwandorf native in their next match against Al Orobah as the former Orlando Pirates boss' charges managed to gain their first three points of the 2024/25 campaign courtesy of a 2-1 victory.
However, when Zinnbauer came up against The People's Club at the Sami Ahmed Al-Jurays Stadium, he received a harsh reality check as the Saudi giants put seven goals into the back of Wehda's net.
Benzema and Houssem Aouar scored the encounter's first two goals within 13 minutes, before the Knights of Mecca pulled one back through Youssef Amyn in the 31st minute.
That is as good as it got for Zinnbauer's men, though, as the floodgates would open thereafter.
Two more goals from the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, plus strikes from Fabinho, Fawaz Al-Sqoor and Saleh Al-Shehri ensured that Laurent Blanc's men an emphatic win.
Check Out: Saudi Footballer In ICU After Falling From Balcony
Ittihad are now top of the Saudi Pro League table with nine points, albeit on goal difference, as they look to try win the title again after a relatively poor championship defence last season.
