Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix, dominated the game on Friday night, winning 2-0 over Al Ittihad in Jeddah to record their fourth victory of the season. A so-called marquee match between Ronaldo and Karim Benzema did not disappoint expectations, as Al Nassr showed the traits and ability to remain calm in the face of a real title holder.
Ronaldo was back to making a difference and scored in a game characterized by his unwavering brilliance at the ripe age of 39. Nevertheless, it was not the only focus, as new players to Al Nassr were in the spotlight, especially Joao Felix, whose mobility and creativity have already redesigned the team’s attack.
Together with other new players, Kingsley Coman and Inigo Martinez, Felix has made Al Nassr a team that can compete to win the Saudi Pro League title and the coveted AFC Champions League trophy.
Ronaldo also appeared in a post-match interview with ex-Manchester United colleague Rio Ferdinand. When Ferdinand referred to Al Nassr in the article as the obvious title contenders, Ronaldo responded in his usual humble style: “We are relaxed, and we play by game.
With acclaimed Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus leading them, Al Nassr is combining international talent with playing discipline and developing a team designed to conquer on several fronts. Should their early-season rise persist, this could be the year the Riyadh giants make ambition turn into silverware not only at home but also in Asia.
