On Saturday evening, the eyes of Saudi and international football fans will be on Al-Ahli Stadium, where Al-Nassr is set to face Al-Fateh in a crucial match in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. The game takes on added significance with the return of captain and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo to lead Al-Nassr's attack, after he missed some training sessions for recovery.
General context and competition in the Roshan League
This encounter comes at a crucial juncture in the season, as Al-Nassr, under the guidance of their Portuguese coach Luis Castro, seeks to maintain pressure on league leaders Al-Hilal and close the points gap. The Saudi Professional League has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the last two seasons, beginning with Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Al-Nassr in late 2012. This move paved the way for the recruitment of a host of world-class stars, significantly raising the level of competition and media attention for the tournament both regionally and internationally. Every match has become a true test for title contenders, and dropping any points could prove costly at the end of the season.
The importance of the match and the impact of Ronaldo's return
Cristiano Ronaldo's return is a huge morale and tactical boost for Al-Nassr. Besides being football's all-time leading scorer, Ronaldo brings invaluable leadership on the pitch and an exceptional ability to decide matches. His presence in the starting lineup not only poses a direct threat to opposing defenses but also instills greater confidence in his teammates and frees up other players like Sadio Mane and Anderson Talisca to move more freely in the attacking third. Al-Nassr aims to use this match to confirm its readiness to compete on all fronts, especially with the crucial stages of the AFC Champions League approaching.
Al-Nassr's expected lineup
Coach Luis Castro has largely settled on his starting lineup for the match, relying on the team's attacking prowess to secure a must-win victory. Al-Nassr's expected lineup is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Waleed Abdullah (or Raghed Al-Najjar).
- Defense line: Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles.
- Midfield: Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Marcelo Brozovic, Otavio.
- Attack line: Anderson Talisca, Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo.
This formation reflects the balance that Castro is looking for between defensive solidity, with Laporte and Amri, and control of the midfield thanks to Brozovic's precision and Otavio's dynamism, while relying on the attacking trio of Ronaldo, Mane and Talisca.
