Ronaldo's Al Nassr returns to winning ways via Abha

Al-Nassr quickly returned to the winning track, defeating visitors Abha 2-1 at Riyadh’s Al-Awwal Park in the final match of the sixth round of the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo (22nd minute) and Abdullah Al-Hamdoun (58th minute) scored Al-Nassr’s goals, while Frenchman Nabil Fekir netted Abha’s only goal (75th minute).

Al-Nassr moved up to 15 points, level with league leaders Al-Hilal and third-placed Al-Qadsiah, while Abha remained in last place with just one point.

In another match, Al-Kholood preserved their unbeaten record this season by defeating Al-Shabab 2-1 at Al-Hazem Club’s stadium. Al-Shabab took an early lead through Colombian Roger Martinez (6th minute), before Spanish player Iker Kortazarina equalized for Al-Kholood (30th minute). Mohammed Al-Dawsari then secured the winning goal in the 87th minute.

Al-Kholood’s tally rose to 12 points, placing them sixth, while Al-Shabab remained on three points in 16th place.

Al-Diriyah continued their impressive form this season, returning from Al-Fateh’s ground with a valuable 2-1 victory. The win brought Al-Diriyah to 10 points in seventh place, while Al-Fateh stayed on three points in 16th place.

Meanwhile, the seventh round kicks off today with three matches. Al-Qadsiah, seeking a fifth consecutive win, will face neighbors Al-Ettifaq on Friday at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, in the round’s marquee clash. Al-Ahli will face Al-Hazem, while Al-Ittihad will meet Al-Faisaly.

In tomorrow’s fixtures, defending champions Al-Nassr will look to continue their resurgence as they travel to face Al-Ghaf on Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, while their rivals Al-Hilal will hope to regain balance when they visit Al-Taawoun on the same day.

Al-Nassr’s Australian coach Ange Postecoglou said, “What matters to me is winning. The match against Al-Ittihad was frustrating because our performance was good, and we dominated against Abha as well. There are still some details that need improvement in upcoming matches.” He added, “Every match is different, and our squad has a limited number of players, so it’s natural that the lineup changes.”