Ronaldo strikes again as Al-Nassr maintain clear Saudi Pro League leadership

RIYADH: Al-Nassr defeated newly promoted Neom 3-1 on Saturday night to maintain their perfect start to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season.

The win was the Riyadh club’s eighth of the campaign and sees them top the table with 24 points, three ahead of surprise package Al-Taawoun, who had won 5-2 at Al-Fateh the previous night. Al-Hilal are in third on 20 points after beating hosts Al-Najma 4-2, also on Friday.

Al-Nassr led 1-0 at the break through Brazilian striker Angelo’s 42nd-minute opener and their night was made more comfortable when the home team had the Uruguayan Luciano Rodriguez sent off 11 minutes into the second period.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second from the penalty spot on 65 minutes before Ahmed Abdu halved the deficit with six minutes left. However, two minutes later Ronaldo’s fellow Portuguese forward Joao Felix made it 3-1 to end any hopes the home team had of a late comeback.

In Saturday’s other matches, reigning champions Al-Ittihad’s miserable defense of their title continued with a 1-0 loss at home to Asian champions Al-Ahli in the Jeddah derby, while Al-Ettifaq managed a 1-1 draw at Al-Shabab.