Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal not enough as Al Nassr fall to Al Hilal 3-1 in key Saudi Pro League clash: Highlights and goals
Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Al Nassr, but Al Hilal defeated them in the Saudi Pro League, with Mohamed Kanno and Ruben Neves scoring the decisive goals for the 3-1 victory. Check out here the highlights and goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Al Nassr, but it was not enough as Al Hilal secured a 3-1 victory in the Saudi Pro League. The hosts took control after the first half and capitalized on a red card for Al Nassr’s goalkeeper. Mohamed Kanno and Ruben Neves added the decisive goals to seal the win.
Al Hilal dominated the second half, pressing high and exploiting the numerical advantage. Al Nassr struggled to create clear chances, with their attacks often breaking down before reaching dangerous positions. The tactical discipline of Al Hilal proved decisive with a dominant performance from Milinkovic Savic.
Cristiano Ronaldo remained a threat throughout, but Al Hilal’s defense and midfield control limited his impact. The Al Hilal managed transitions effectively and converted their opportunities with clinical finishing. The result keeps them at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings.
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Al Hilal beat Al Nassr 3-1 in today’s Saudi Pro League match and you lived every moment of this exciting game here, on Bolavip.
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90' - Full time! (3-1)
Al Hilal secure a convincing 3-1 victory over Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal for the visitors, the hosts controlled the match after the red card and decisive strikes from Mohamed Kanno and Ruben Neves.
90+10' - Al Nassr struggle to create chances (3-1)
Al Nassr push forward in search of a goal, but their efforts are largely ineffective. The absence of a key player is clearly felt, making it difficult for them to break down Al Hilal’s organized defense.
90+6' - Substitutions for Al Hilal (3-1)
Al Hilal make two changes as Malcom and Darwin Nunez are taken off. Marcos Leonardo and Sultan Ahmed Mandash come on to inject fresh energy.
90+2' GOOOOOOAL FOR AL HILAL!! (3-1)
Ruben Neves calmly converts the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and extending Al Hilal’s lead, putting the host in complete control of the match.
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90' - Penalty awarded to Al Hilal! (2-1)
Al Hilal earn a penalty following a swift counterattack that catches Al Nassr’s defensive line off guard. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic delivers a precise pass, and Mohamed Kanno is brought down in the box, giving the hosts another chance from the spot.
84' - Substitutions for Al Nassr (2-1)
Al Nassr make two changes as Cristiano Ronaldo and Ayman Yahya are taken off, with Wesley and Sultan Al Ghanam coming on. Ronaldo leaves the field visibly frustrated, expressing his displeasure at being substituted.
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81' GOOOOOOAL FOR AL HILAL! (2-1)
Al Hilal take the lead as Ruben Neves delivers a corner that is initially cleared but falls to Theo Hernandez, who lays it back for Neves. He sends in a precise cross that Mohamed Kanno meets to finish, putting the hosts ahead at Kingdom Arena.
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79' - Play resumes after check on Al Nassr player (1-1)
The game was briefly stopped for a review of Al Nassr’s Ayman Yahya, but play has now resumed with the player returning to the field and the match continuing at Kingdom Arena.
76' - Substitutions for Al Hilal (1-1)
Al Hilal make a double change as Salem Al Dawsari and Saud Al-Harbi are replaced. Mohamed Kanno and Pablo Mari come on to inject fresh legs.
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72' - Substitution for Al Nassr (1-1)
Al Nassr make a change as Mohamed Simakan, clearly fatigued, is taken off. Ali Al Hassan comes on as the visitors look to regain balance while playing with ten men.
68' - Al Hilal raise the pressure after the red card (1-1)
The match shifts dramatically as Al Hilal respond to the sending off by pushing their lines higher. Head coach Simone Inzaghi instructs his side to apply intense high pressure, taking advantage of Al Nassr being down a man and having sacrificed their most creative midfielder to reorganize defensively.
63' - Red card for Al Nassr goalkeeper (1-1)
Controversy follows the equalizer as Al Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi is sent off after striking Joao Neves. The visitors are reduced to ten men, forcing an immediate change as backup goalkeeper Al Buainain comes on to replace Angelo Borges.
57' - GOOOOOOAL FOR AL HILAL (1-1)
Salem Al Dawsari calmly converts the penalty with a solid strike to the goalkeeper’s left, leveling the score for Al Hilal and bringing Kingdom Arena to life as the hosts get back into the match.
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55' - Penalty awarded to Al Hilal! (0-1)
Al Hilal are given a golden opportunity to equalize after Malcom is brought down inside the box by Yahya.
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53' - Yellow card shown to Marcelo Brozovic (0-1)
Marcelo Brozovic becomes the first player booked in the match after protesting the referee’s decision and aggressively throwing the ball into the ground, earning a yellow card as tempers begin to rise.
50' - Ruben Neves sends free kick over the bar (0-1)
Ruben Neves is brought down near the edge of the area and wins a dangerous free kick for Al Hilal. He steps up to take it himself and opts for a direct effort, but the shot sails over the crossbar without troubling the goalkeeper.
48' - Al Nassr threaten again from open play (0-1)
Al Nassr come close once more with a well-worked collective move that ends with Kingsley Coman slipping a pass into the top of the box. Marcelo Brozovic meets it and fires a shot that rises just over the crossbar.
45' - Second half is underway! (0-1)
The match resumes at Kingdom Arena as Al Hilal and Al Nassr are back on the field for the second half, with the hosts looking to push forward and Al Nassr aiming to protect their lead and strike on the counter.
45' - Halftime at Kingdom Arena (0-1)
The first half comes to an end with Al Nassr holding a narrow advantage thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal. After an open and tactical opening period, Al Nassr capitalized on their best chance, while Al Hilal now look to respond after the break.
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42' GOOOOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR! (0-1)
Al Nassr take the lead as Cristiano Ronaldo finishes with ease after a brilliant sequence involving Kingsley Coman, who controls a long ball and delivers a quick, slightly acrobatic first-time pass that leaves CR7 alone in front of goal to put Al Nassr ahead.
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39' - Momentum swings with limited danger (0-0)
Al Hilal enjoyed their best spell of the match, putting together several attacking sequences but without creating real danger. The momentum then shifted toward Al Nassr, who sent in a series of crosses that lacked precision, following a risky build-up from the back that ended with a long ball released toward Coman.
32' - Al Hilal produce their best build-up so far (0-0)
Al Hilal put together their best collective move of the match, finally finding Ruben Neves, who links up well with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in a sharp sequence of quick passing. The move carries them deep into the attacking third and results in a corner kick, though it fails to produce a clear chance.
29' - Al Hilal clear Brozović’s delivery (0-0)
Marcelo Brozovic takes the free kick and sends a cross into the box, but Al Hilal’s defense stays alert and clears the danger without allowing a shot on goal.
28' - Dangerous free kick for Al Nassr (0-0)
Al Nassr earn a promising set-piece opportunity after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic commits a foul on Joao Felix near the edge of the penalty area.
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21' - Al Nassr threaten from a quick free kick (0-0)
João Félix draws a foul near the edge of the box, and Cristiano Ronaldo takes it quickly, firing a sharp effort on goal. Mohammed Al-Rubaie reacts well to make the save, pushing the ball out for a corner that ultimately leads to no danger, but it is a strong spell for Al Nassr.
19' - Al Nassr with the clearest chance so far! (0-0)
Al Nassr come close to opening the scoring as Kingsley Coman bursts forward with pace, slips through the defensive line, and fires a powerful, low, cross-goal shot that whistles just wide of the post.
17' - Defensive lines dominate early phases (0-0)
Both defensive lines have played a key role in limiting attacking progress, keeping the game tight and highly tactical. There have already been four offside calls—two for each side—and in the latest instance, Salem Al-Dawsari found himself alone to finish but sent his effort over the bar, with the play ruled offside anyway.
13' - End-to-end start with no clear control (0-0)
The match has settled into an open, back-and-forth rhythm, with both sides relying on quick transitions rather than sustained possession. Despite the pace, neither attack has caused significant damage, as the final pass has been lacking and there is no clear control in midfield, leaving the forwards to drive the most dangerous moments.
8' - Al Nassr push forward and earn a corner (0-0)
The roles have now shifted, with Al Nassr taking up positions in Al Hilal’s half as the hosts drop into a defensive shape. Kingsley Coman found himself trapped near the corner flag but managed to whip in a dangerous cross that nearly curled into the goal, earning a corner kick that ultimately came to nothing.
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2' - Early pressure from Al Hilal (0-0)
Al Hilal have started on the front foot, creating two early dangerous moves without a clear chance on goal. Most of the attacking threat has come down the left flank, where Theo Hernández has been heavily involved and pushing play into Al Nassr’s defensive third.
0' - Game is underway! (0-0)
The match kicks off at Kingdom Arena as Al Hilal and Al Nassr get underway in this highly anticipated Saudi Pro League showdown.
Teams take the field
Al Hilal and Al Nassr are already on the field for the pre-match protocol, as both sides line up for the formal greetings ahead of kickoff at Kingdom Arena.
How Cristiano Ronaldo arrives to the match
Cristiano Ronaldo comes into the encounter in strong form, having scored two goals across Al Nassr’s last three matches. The Portuguese star has stayed healthy and available, and he enters the game chasing his 15th goal of the 2025–26 season, while continuing to lead Al Nassr as their top scorer.
Head-To-Head records
Al Hilal and Al Nassr have faced each other 64 times across all competitions, with Al Hilal holding a clear historical advantage. Al Hilal have claimed 33 victories in the rivalry, while Al Nassr have recorded 15 wins, with 16 matches ending in draws.
However, recent meetings have favored Al Nassr. The most recent encounter saw Al Nassr earn a 3-1 victory at Kingdom Arena, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s side remained unbeaten in both league meetings last season, including a 1-1 draw in the home fixture.
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Al Hilal confirmed starting XI
Al Hilal will line up as follows: Mohammed Al-Yami; Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Altambakti, Moteb Al-Harbi, Theo Hernández; Nasser Al-Dawsari, Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić; Salem Al-Dawsari, Malcom, Darwin Núñez.
Al Nassr confirmed lineup!
Al Nassr will line up as follows: Nawaf Al-Aqidi; Sultan Al-Ghannam Boushal, Iñigo Martínez, Mohamed Simakan, Ayman Yahya; Marcelo Brozović, Abdullah Al-Khaibari; Ângelo Gabriel, Kingsley Coman, João Félix; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Today’s venue
Kingdom Arena is the home of Al Hilal and is a modern multi-purpose stadium located in the Hittin neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The venue has a seating capacity of approximately 30,000 and is designed to host a wide range of events, including soccer matches, music concerts, professional boxing bouts, and professional wrestling events.
Today’s referee
The match will be officiated by French referee François Letexier, who will be in charge on the field for this highly anticipated clash. He will be assisted by his compatriots Cyril Moine and Mehdi Rahmouni, while Saudi referee Abdullah Al-Owaidan has been appointed as the fourth official.
Video Assistant Referee duties will be handled by French official Bastien Dechepy, with support from Nicolas Rainville.
Start time and how to watch
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr will get underway at 12:30 PM ET (PT:9:30 AM)
Al Hilal and Al Nassr clash in Saudi Pro League showdown
Welcome to our live blog of today’s Saudi Pro League matchup.
Al Hilal face Al Nassr in a crucial league encounter with the title race at stake, as the top two sides in the standings go head-to-head. Al Hilal arrive as the league leaders, while Al Nassr look to close the gap behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
Stay with us for key information and minute-by-minute updates as Al Hilal and Al Nassr battle it out today.
Emilio Abad is a bilingual journalism graduate from Universidad de Especialidad Espíritu Santo. He joined the Bolavip US team in 2024, bringing with him a deep passion for international soccer and basketball. Emilio has gained valuable experience as a news anchor on a university program and completed an internship at Radio Forever in Guayaquil. He has also covered Liga Pro events in Ecuador, highlighting his expertise in sports reporting. Through these roles, he has built a strong foundation in journalism, with a focus on sports media and storytelling.