In a surprising development ahead of the 15th round of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Nassr's coaching staff has made its final decision regarding the participation of Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto Matheus in the highly anticipated derby against arch-rivals Al-Hilal. The decision to exclude the Brazilian goalkeeper from the squad list raises questions about the player's future with the Riyadh-based club.
Reasons for exclusion and the player's next destination
Reports from the club indicate that the decision to exclude him was not solely technical, but closely linked to transfer dealings, as the goalkeeper has been definitively removed from the coaching staff's plans for the current season. News suggests that Pinto is close to a move to Serie A, specifically to Genoa, which hastened his exclusion from both the starting lineup and the substitutes' bench for this crucial match.
The importance of the Riyadh derby and its impact on the competition
The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal match, scheduled for 8:30 PM tomorrow, Monday, carries significant strategic importance that transcends the mere fact that it's a three-point game. The Riyadh derby is a showcase for Saudi and Asian football, especially given the Kingdom's current sporting boom and its attraction of some of the world's top stars. This encounter comes at a time when the battle for the top spot is intensifying, with Al-Nassr aiming to close the points gap, while Al-Hilal seeks to solidify its dominance at the summit.
The two teams' positions in the standings
Al-Nassr enters the match in second place in the Roshan League standings with 31 points, facing a tough challenge against league leaders Al-Hilal, who are four points ahead. This match presents a golden opportunity for Al-Nassr to close the gap and move closer to the top, or it could be an opportunity for Al-Hilal to widen the gap and extend their lead at the top, placing significant pressure on the coaching staff and players to compensate for the absence of a goalkeeper of Pinto's caliber.
Pinto's numbers and statistics with Al-Nasr
Looking at the statistics, Pinto has played 10 matches for Al-Nassr this season, keeping a clean sheet in 5 and conceding 7 goals. The club signed the 26-year-old goalkeeper during the summer transfer window of the 2024/25 season from Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense. Overall, his statistics for Al-Nassr show he has played 59 matches, keeping 20 clean sheets and conceding 61 goals – figures that highlight the potential loss of a reliable goalkeeper for the team.
