The Rahimi brothers had a dream afternoon on their home turf. Houssine scored a brace, while Soufiane added the third. Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis sealed the final score for his team.

For Ange Postecoglou’s side, it will be a matter of regrouping after a tough setback at the start of the competition. With time to prepare, Ronaldo and his teammates will look to secure their first win in Matchday 2 and reignite their hopes of challenging near the top of the table.

How to watch Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr in the USA

Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr will be available to watch in the United States on FOX Soccer Plus, with the match also available to stream through Fubo and FOX One.

Can I watch Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr for free?

Fubo currently offers a 5-day free trial on its listed plans, and the service is carrying Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr live on FOX Soccer Plus. The platform’s current U.S. plan information indicates that its featured plans offer five-day trials.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Al Nassr head into the trip to Al Khaleej with a chance to keep themselves firmly in the Saudi Pro League title race. The visitors have 15 points from six matches, with five wins and one defeat, while Al Khaleej sit 13th with four points after four draws and two losses.

The contrast is even clearer in attack: Al Nassr have scored 15 goals, compared with only two for Al Khaleej, while the hosts have already conceded nine.

For Al Nassr, the immediate objective is to respond after their first league defeat of the campaign. They lost 2-1 away to Al Ittihad on September 5, ending a seven-match unbeaten run in league play, but remain within reach of the top of the table.

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s side therefore cannot afford another slip if it wants to stay in contention at the top, particularly with Al Hilal also making a strong start to the season.

Al Khaleej have a very different challenge. The hosts are still searching for their first league victory of the 2026-27 season and have scored just twice in six games. Their latest result was a 0-0 draw against Al Riyadh on September 7, meaning another point would extend their unbeaten streak to four matches but would not solve their biggest problem: converting solid defensive performances into wins.

Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr: Predicted Lineups

Al Khaleej (4-4-2): Anthony Moris; Pedro Rebocho, Kiki Kouyate, Mohammed Al-Khubrani, Saeed Al-Hamsl; Majed Kanabah, Miguel Crespo, Omar Mascarell, Fortounis; Thamer Al-Khaibri, Angelo Fulgini.

Al Nassr (4-4-2): Bento; Saad Al-Nasser, Inigo Martinez, Mohamed Simakan, Nawaf Boushal; Sadio Mane, Otavio, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Angelo; Cristiano Ronaldo, Abdullah Al-Hamdan.

What time is the Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr match?

Al Khaleej vs Al Nassr kicks off on Saturday, September 12, at 2:00 PM ET. The Saudi Pro League fixture is scheduled for 9:00 PM local time in Saudi Arabia, equivalent to 6:00 PM UTC. U.S. viewers can find the local start times below.

• Eastern Time: 2:00 PM
• Central Time: 1:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 12:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 11:00 AM

With the goal, Cristiano moves a bit closer on the goalscoring table, but he faces a competitor who is well ahead of the field in Ivan Toney, who already has eight goals in the Saudi Pro League in just six matches.

CR7 has work to do if he wants to contend for the league’s top scorer title, but his capabilities are well known, especially with the season just getting underway. However, time will tell how things progress, particularly with the now-41-year-old forward as age begins to factor in.

How many career goals does CR7 have and how close is he to 1,000?

With his latest strike against Abha in domestic play, fans ask a major question: how many goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have? The Portuguese forward’s official career tally reached 979 goals, an extraordinary record spanning his time with various clubs and the Portugal national team.

Analyzing CR7’s current numbers, the path to the landmark milestone is closer than ever: the striker sits just 21 goals away from reaching the golden 1,000-goal mark; meanwhile, he was snubbed from the Ballon D’Or list.

If he maintains his recent scoring pace for Al-Nassr, the historic milestone appears to be only a matter of time for world soccer’s all-time leading goalscorer.

What’s next for Al-Nassr and Ronaldo?

Al-Nassr will look to chase success this season with Ballon d’Or nominee Sadio Mane and a still-vital Ronaldo. The next step for the club is a Saudi Pro League matchup against Al-Khaleej on Saturday, Sept. 12, followed by the start of their AFC Champions League campaign against Al Ain on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

How to watch Al Nassr vs Abha in the USA

Al Nassr vs. Abha will be available to watch live in the United States on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) and FOX Deportes. The match is also scheduled to stream through Fubo and FOX One.

Can I watch Al Nassr vs Abha for free?

Fubo offers a 5-day free trial option for viewers who are eligible for one, and its official match listing currently promotes Al Nassr vs. Abha with a “Try for free” option.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Al Nassr enter Matchday 6 looking to immediately bounce back from their first Saudi Pro League defeat of the season. Ange Postecoglou‘s team lost 2-1 away to Al-Ittihad on September 5, a result that ended its perfect start and allowed Al Hilal to move into sole possession of first place.

Despite the setback, Al Nassr remain second with 12 points from five matches, having won four games. That makes the meeting with Abha particularly important for the defending champions.

A victory would put Al Nassr back on track in the title race and maintain pressure on Al Hilal, while another dropped result could allow the leaders to create more separation early in the campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the headline figure for Postecoglou’s side, with the Portuguese forward coming off a full 90-minute appearance against Al-Ittihad.

Abha arrive in a very different situation. The newly promoted side has collected only one point from its first five league games and sits at the bottom of the table without a victory. Its latest outing ended in a 1-0 home defeat against Al-Ettifaq, leaving Damir Buric‘s team in urgent need of points.

Al Nassr vs Abha: Predicted Lineups

Al Nassr (4-4-1-1): Nawaf Al-Aqeedi; Salem Al-Najdi, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Mohamed Simakan, Nawaf Boushal; Sadio Mane, Angelo Gabriel, Samu Costa, Kingsley Coman; Joao Felix; Cristiano Ronaldo.

Abha (4-5-1): Donovan Leon; Safwan Al-Juhani, Abdulbasit Hindi, Jurien Gaari, Mohammed Al-Zaid; Keshim Al-Qahtani, Firas Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah Al-Fahad, Nabil Fekir, Alimani Gory; Michy Batshuayi.

What time is the Al Nassr vs Abha match?

The Al Nassr vs. Abha match kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, at 2:00 PM ET. The Saudi Pro League fixture is scheduled for 9:00 PM local time in Saudi Arabia at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.

• Eastern Time: 2:00 PM
• Central Time: 1:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 12:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 11:00 AM

How to watch Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr in the USA

Al Ittihad vs. Al Nassr will be available in the United States on FOX Soccer Plus. The game can also be streamed through Fubo and FOX One.

Can I watch Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr for free?

Eligible viewers can watch Al Ittihad vs. Al Nassr for free through Fubo‘s 5-day free trial. The matchup will be available on the platform in the United States, with the streaming service carrying FOX Soccer Plus, the channel showing the game.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

This is already shaping up as one of the biggest games of Matchweek 5. Al Nassr are the only team in the Saudi Pro League with a perfect record after four matches, collecting 12 points from 12 and scoring 12 goals. Al Ittihad are also unbeaten, but their two wins and two draws have left them on eight points, four behind their visitors.

The contrast in form is striking. Al Nassr opened the campaign with a 3-0 victory over Al Fateh, followed it with a 4-0 win at Al Riyadh, beat Al Ettifaq 3-2 and then edged Al Taawoun 2-1. Ange Postecoglou‘s team have scored in every league game and arrive in Jeddah with the chance to extend their perfect start to five victories.

Al Ittihad have taken a more measured route to their eight points. Jens Wissing‘s team began with a 1-1 draw against Al Kholood, defeated Al Qadsiah 1-0, beat Al Hazem 3-2 and then drew 0-0 away at Al Fateh. They have conceded only three goals in four league matches, giving them the defensive platform needed to challenge Al Nassr’s explosive attack.

Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr: Predicted Lineups

Al Ittihad (4-4-2): Predrag Rajkovic; Ahmed Al-Julaydan, Danilo Pereira, Hassan Kadesh, Faris Abdi; Houssem Aouar, Mamadou Lopy, Mukhtar Ali, Steven Bergwijn; Marwan Al-Sahafi, Youssef En-Nesyri.

Al Nassr (4-4-2): Nawaf Al-Aqeedi; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Salem Al-Najdi; Kingsley Coman, Angelo Gabriel, Samu Costa, Sadio Mane; Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix.

What time is the Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr match?

The Al Ittihad vs. Al Nassr match kicks off Saturday, September 5, at 2:00 PM ET in the United States. The Saudi Pro League and Al Ittihad’s official schedule list the game for 9:00 PM Saudi time at Alinma Bank Stadium in Jeddah.

• Eastern Time: 2:00 PM
• Central Time: 1:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 12:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 11:00 AM

On Ronaldo’s side, the forward currently has 131 official goals with Al-Nassr, having already surpassed the 100-goal mark for the club. The Portuguese striker recently scored against Al-Taawoun FC in the Saudi League, bringing his overall career total to 978 goals.

Messi is now on the verge of reaching the 100-club goal mark three years after joining Inter Miami in 2023, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in 2022.

Near 1,000 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain locked in a historic scoring race, now with a remarkable target: 1,000 career goals. Ronaldo leads with 978 goals in 1,333 appearances, while Messi has reached 927 in 1,171 games following his four-goal performance for Inter Miami against Montreal.

The current gap between the two is 51 goals, although Ronaldo has also played 162 more matches than Messi. The Portuguese star is significantly closer to four figures, needing only 22 more goals, while the Argentine needs 73.

How many goals does Ronaldo need to reach 1,000?

Cristiano Ronaldo needs 22 more goals to reach 1,000 in his professional career. His latest goal came on Friday for Al-Nassr against Al-Taawoun FC in the Saudi Pro League, taking his total to 978. Of the two superstars, Ronaldo is currently much closer to reaching the four-digit milestone.

How many goals does Messi need to reach 1,000?

Lionel Messi needs another 73 goals to reach 1,000. The Argentine made a significant jump toward the milestone by scoring four times in Inter Miami‘s 7-1 MLS victory over Montreal. He also reached 74 from direct free kicks.

On the heels of a tense situation during Al Nassr’s last match—which manager Ange Postecoglou openly addressed—Cristiano once again proved his status as a pillar of the squad, making any thought of benching him going forward a far less viable option.

Although Ronaldo celebrated his team’s comeback after exiting the pitch facing a 2-0 deficit, speculation swirled regarding his rapport with Postecoglou. However, his latest goal effectively put any rumors of an internal rift to rest.

Al Nassr now shift focus to their upcoming fixtures as the club aims to maintain its grip on the top of the Saudi Pro League standings, a push bolstered significantly by this key victory.

Cristiano’s performance so far with Al Nassr

Following his World Cup campaign and an extended offseason break, Ronaldo rejoined the squad for the opening stretch of the Saudi Pro League season, compiling the following stats:

How to watch Al Nassr vs Al Taawoun in the USA

Al Nassr vs. Al Taawoun will be available to watch in the USA on FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. For streaming, viewers can watch the game through Fubo and FOX One.

Can I watch Al Nassr vs Al Taawoun for free?

Yes, Fubo currently offers a 5-day free trial for Al Nassr vs. Al Taawoun. Its official match listing shows the game with a “Try for free” option, allowing eligible new subscribers to access the broadcast without paying upfront.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Al Nassr comes into this fourth-round meeting with a perfect start to the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season, and the timing could not be more demanding. The Riyadh side won its first two league matches before producing a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Al Ettifaq on Tuesday, despite playing with 10 men for most of the match after goalkeeper Bento was sent off. Sadio Mane scored twice in the comeback, including the stoppage-time winner.

The victory kept Al Nassr unbeaten under Ange Postecoglou and maintained its position at the top of the early league standings. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, was substituted at halftime against Al Ettifaq after making his first start of the campaign. His availability and fitness will be an important factor heading into Friday, particularly after he scored against Al Riyadh in his previous league appearance.

Al Taawoun faces a very different situation. The visitors have yet to win a league game this season, opening with a 0-0 draw against Al Khaleej and then drawing 0-0 with Al Fayha, with a 3-2 defeat to Al Kholood in between. They did, however, beat Damac 3-0 in the King’s Cup, giving the team some momentum before one of its toughest league assignments.

What time is the Al Nassr vs Al Taawoun match?

The Al Nassr vs. Al Taawoun match kicks off Friday, August 28, at 2:00 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 2:00 PM
• Central Time: 1:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 12:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 11:00 AM

“Ronaldo is a special athlete. The plan was for him to play 45 minutes against Al-Ettifaq, after featuring for 30 minutes in the previous match. Gradually, he will work his way up to full match fitness. For now, I believe 45 minutes is the right limit until he’s fully back,” Postecoglou said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s fixture against Al Taawoun.

Ronaldo took to social media after the victory with three words to clear the air and keep spirits high within the squad despite his early exit. With the drama settled, supporters are eager to see if he will feature in Al Nassr‘s upcoming Saudi Pro League clash.

Meanwhile, Postecoglou is taking time to find the right tactical balance, recognizing that while Ronaldo works his way back to 100%, the team must rely on its depth to stay on track toward its ultimate goal: the Saudi Pro League title.

Postecoglou addresses Ronaldo’s reaction to first-half exit

While Cristiano projected calm on social media, he was visibly frustrated when taken off, a reaction Postecoglou addressed directly when discussing the star’s managed minute restriction moving forward.

“I understand Cristiano Ronaldo’s personality and his frustration during the Al-Ettifaq match. He was furious at halftime, but in the dressing room after the match, he was right there with the team leading the celebrations. Ronaldo is passionate, loves the game, and is fully committed to Al-Nassr,” Postecoglou said.

Despite the halftime exit, Ronaldo took to social media to show his support via an Instagram story featuring a photo of the squad embracing. “WHAT. A. COMEBACK,” Ronaldo posted, using three simple words to celebrate the win.

The comeback was delayed until the final minute, when Sadio Mane scored the third goal to overcome the two-goal deficit following a key assist from Sami Al-Najei.

Postecoglou’s tough decision

With the squad down to 10 men and trailing 2-0, Postecoglou made a decision few managers would attempt. Al Nassr first needed numerical parity on defense.

That requirement had nothing to do with Ronaldo’s goalscoring ability and everything to do with his position on the pitch, as he is a player who takes no part in the pressing and recovery phases.

Even with that explanation, the point still stands: This marks the first time this season that a coach, in a moment of genuine crisis, decided the route back into a match ran not through Ronaldo, but entirely without him.

Postecoglou demonstrated authority by making it clear that his priority is helping the team win and doing what is best for the group. “When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact,” Postecoglou said. “I came here to help the players, so as I said, I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution.”

Postecoglou made it clear that he is there to help the team, explaining the replacement of several stars, including Ronaldo. “When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact,” Postecoglou said. “I came here to help the players, so as I said, I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution.”

Ronaldo was substituted at halftime after being seen visibly upset while heading to the locker room, demanding more intensity from his teammates. The star forward was taken off with Al Nassr still trailing 2-0 on the scoreboard.

Dismal start for Al Nassr

Losing goalkeeper Bento to a red card left Al Nassr staring at a heavy defeat. Bento raced off his line and brought down Moussa Dembele, prompting the referee to brandish a straight red card.

Down to 10 men, Al Nassr made an emergency change as young goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi replaced Angelo to guard the net in a difficult early test. Al Ettifaq made the extra man count, pressing until Doda collected the ball on the edge of the box in the 31st minute and lashed it into the top corner past the backup keeper.

Deep into first-half stoppage time (45+3′), Alvaro Medran doubled the lead. Latching onto a pass from Yasser Al-Shammari, Medran unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box to send the hosts into the break up 2-0.

Postecoglou’s decisive changes

Chasing a comeback after the break, Al Nassr made a change by bringing on Abdullah Al-Khaibari for Ronaldo. Postecoglou later subbed off Kingsley Coman and Samu to bring in Sami Al-Najei and Al-Hamdan.

Inigo Martinez came within inches of pulling one back in the 53rd minute, only to see his shot strike the post. Al Ettifaq’s goalkeeper then repelled an effort from Joao Felix.

Joao Felix turned provider in the 74th minute, threading a pass through to Sadio Mane. The Senegalese striker burst into the box and drilled a right-footed finish into the far corner, hauling Al Nassr back into the contest. The equalizer followed in the 77th minute when Joao Felix swung in a corner that Abdulelah Al-Amri met from close range, burying his header to make it 2-2.

Then came the winner. Sami Al-Najei drove a rapid counter-attack in the 90th minute and slipped the ball to Mane, who fired home from the middle of the box to complete a historic comeback and snatch all three points.