Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo was centre stage during Al Nassr’s 4-0 victory over Al Shabab.
As the scoreline suggests, Al Nassr dominated their visitors at Al-Awwal Park, managing ten shots on target, four goals and three points.
Ronaldo was at the heart of everything Al Nassr did, bagging himself a brace from the penalty spot. The first was calmly stroked into the bottom right-hand corner, while the second – which he had somewhat controversially won himself – was hammered low into the same place.
The Portuguese also set up Sadio Mane’s third with a lovely pass and could have potentially had himself a hat-trick had his first-half header not been ruled out for a soft foul. Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net a fourth time in the second half, but his strike was rightfully ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
The victory over Al Shabab took Al Nassr up to sixth in the Saudi Pro League with a second successive victory helping propel the side up the table following a slow start to the season.
But what next for Ronaldo? Here is when he is next in action for Al Nassr.
The 38-year-old’s next opponents will be Al Hazem at 19:00 (BST) on Saturday 2 September – the final game before the international break.
While an away game for Al Nassr, they will be strong favourites to get a fourth successive victory in all competitions. Al Hazem currently sit in 16th in the Saudi Pro League, only above Al Shabab on goal difference, and have only managed two points from their first four matches.
Al Nassr have won their last three encounters with Al Hazem, but it will be the first time that Ronaldo faces the newly-promoted side.
Al Hazem have a significantly weaker squad than Al Nassr with no real superstars in their side. It should be a fairly straightforward match for Ronaldo and his teammates before the Portugal striker heads off on international duty.
READ MORE ON THE PLAYERS LINKED TO SAUDI ARABIA & THE MONEY ON OFFER
Before the league season had even begun, Ronaldo lifted his first trophy with Al Nassr, adding to an already overflowing silverware cabinet.
Al Nassr won the Arab Club Champions Cup in August, eventually beating Al Hilal 2-1 after extra time in the final. Despite being down to ten men from the 71st minute and a goal down, a Ronaldo brace completed an astounding comeback and earned him his first trophy since 2021.
However, life in the Saudi Pro League got off to a rocky start with Al Nassr losing their opening two games of the season. A victory in the Asian Champions League would get things back on track, with Al Nassr then winning their next two league games by an aggregate score of 9-0.
Ronaldo’s brace and assist against Al Shabab added to the hat-trick and assist he got during his side’s 5-0 thrashing of Al Fateh, with him and Mane beginning to forge an impressive partnership.
Al Nassr 2023/24 Saudi Pro League results
|
Date |
Result |
|---|---|
|
14/08/23 |
Al Ettifaq 2-1 Al Nassr |
|
18/08/23 |
Al Nassr 0-2 Al Taawoun |
|
25/08/23 |
Al Fateh 0-5 Al Nassr |
|
29/08/23 |
Al Nassr 4-0 Al Shabab |
LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN’S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey to discuss Man Utd’s links to Marc Cucurella and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Romelu Lukaku’s impending exit from Chelsea, West Ham’s attempts to revive a deal for Harry Maguire & more!
If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
90 Mins
