Following their win over Al Hilal in the previous round, Al Nassr faced a key clash this Saturday against Al Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League. They went behind in the first half, but after the break, Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to net a brace and make it 2-1.
In the first half, Al Nassr did not deliver a convincing performance. They struggled to control possession and failed to create scoring chances, while their opponents showed the clarity needed to put them under pressure. In this context, Al Riyadh took the lead just before the break with a long-range strike from Faiz Selemani.
For the second half, head coach Stefano Pioli made three changes to the lineup that had an immediate impact, revitalizing Al Nassr and allowing them to take control of the game. Thatās when Ronaldo scored his first goal, following a free kick that Sadio Mane received inside the box and turned into an assist for the Portuguese forward, who only had to tap the ball in.
A stunning goal from Cristiano Ronaldo
With the match level, Al Nassr didnāt settleāthey pushed for more. It didnāt take long for them to turn things around, as they found their second goal in the 19th minute through another link-up between Mane and Ronaldo.
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The former Liverpool winger made a brilliant run down the left flank, beating a defender and sending in a cross that took a deflection. That allowed Cristiano to receive the ball at the edge of the box and, in a dazzling display of skill, strike it first-time with his right foot without even taking a touch, leaving goalkeeper Borjan with no chance to react.
Al Nassr close the gap on their Saudi Pro League rivals
With the 2-1 win over Al Riyadh, Al Nassr secured their third consecutive victory in the Saudi Pro League. The result allowed them to narrow the gap in the standings with their closest rival, Al Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldoās team now sits at 57 points, just one behind Al Hilal.
However, they remain a long way off league leaders Al Ittihad. Karim Benzema and his teammates have built a commanding lead in the standings and currently top the table with 65 points, seven ahead of Al Hilal. With only nine matches remaining, the title race appears firmly in Al Ittihadās control.
