After just four games, it puts the defending champion in the driving seat while denting the aspirations of Al-Ittihad.

The Serbian striker had put the hosts ahead after just three minutes with a header from the centre of the box, having met Ruben Neves's deep cross from the right.

Mitrovic doubled Al-Hilal's lead from the spot just 11 minutes later after Abdulelah Al Amri brought Renan Lodi down in the area.

Al-Hilal increased the deficit to three before half-time as Salem Al Dawsari added to the scoreline in the 36th minute, receiving down the left from Neves once more before driving clear in the box and finishing coolly.

Karim Benzema fired home in the 85th minute, but that was nothing but a consolation for Al-Ittihad.