Just weeks after Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from the squad for two straight matches, Al-Nassr has climbed to the top of the Saudi Pro League table. With 12 games left in the season, the team now holds a narrow lead over its closest rivals.
Al-Nassr secured a strong 4-0 win against Al-Hazem. At the same time, Al-Ittihad managed to hold Al-Hilal to a 1-1 draw, even though they played with 10 men for more than 80 minutes. Those results combined to push Al-Nassr into first place.
The match between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad started quickly. In the fifth minute, Karim Benzema sent a pass to Salem Al-Dawsari, who then set up Malcom to score the opening goal.
Al-Hilal pushed hard for another goal right away. Their attacks put pressure on the Al-Ittihad defense. In the eighth minute, Hassan Kadesh was shown a yellow card for pulling down Malcom. But after a VAR review, the decision was changed to a red card because Malcom had been breaking through on goal.
The red card led to debate among players and fans. Many took to social media to question whether it was the right call.
After the dismissal, Al-Ittihad changed its formation to a 4-4-1. Houssem Aouar moved to the left side of midfield, and Mario Mitaj took over at left-back. Mahamadou Doumbia was given more responsibility to lead the team forward.
In the 23rd minute, Doumbia broke free from pressure in his own half and played a dangerous through ball to Youssef En-Nesyri. But Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a strong save to deny his fellow countryman.
Al-Ittihad kept trying to score through passes to En-Nesyri. In first-half stoppage time, he found space again, but Hassan Al-Tambakti stepped in with an important tackle to stop him.
Just before halftime, Benzema had a chance to make it 2-0. He was left unmarked inside the six-yard box, but Predrag Rajkovic made a key save to keep the score at 1-0.
Even with 10 men, Al-Ittihad did not sit back. In the 53rd minute, Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti sent a floated cross into the box. Aouar got behind the defense and headed the ball past Bounou to make it 1-1.
En-Nesyri had another good chance in the 64th minute, but his shot lacked power and was easily collected by Bounou.
Al-Hilal could not find the same rhythm they had in the first half. Rajkovic finished the night with nine saves, while Danilo Pereira put in a strong defensive shift to limit space for Al-Dawsari and Benzema.
Although Al-Hilal took more than 10 shots in the second half, they could not break through. Coach Sergio Conceicao organized the Al-Ittihad defense well to earn a valuable point on the road.
While that match was taking place, Al-Nassr played just a short distance away at Al-Awwal Park. They knew a win would send them to the top of the table.
A week after scoring the winner against Al-Fateh in his return match, Ronaldo opened the scoring again. Kingsley Coman found him unmarked in the box, and he finished calmly.
Coman was also involved in the second goal in the 30th minute. Joao Felix played him through, and Coman powered his shot into the net.
When news arrived that Al-Ittihad had equalized against Al-Hilal, the home crowd grew louder. In the 77th minute, Angelo added a third goal after a long run from midfield, gliding past four Al-Hazem players. Two minutes later, Ronaldo scored his second of the night with a composed finish. It was his 20th league goal of the season.
The victory moves Al-Nassr to 55 points, one ahead of Al-Hilal in second place. Al-Ittihad stays in sixth place with 38 points, behind Al-Taawoun. They are now 13 points away from a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite.
The Saudi Pro League will return on Monday after a one-day break for Saudi Founding Day. The gap between first and fourth place is now just five points.
In Matchday 24, Al-Nassr will face Al-Fayha. Al-Hilal will host rival Al-Shabab. Al-Ahli meets Al-Riyadh, and Al-Qadsiah takes on Al-Taawoun.
Cristiano Ronaldo was gifted a traditional Saudi bisht after scoring a brace against Al Hazm, reaches 500 goals after the age of 30.
