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The Saudi Pro League returns with a high-stakes clash that could shape the title race, as Al-Nassr welcomes Al-Ettifaq in Riyadh. The Saudi Pro League returns with a high-stakes clash that could shape the title race, as Al-Nassr welcomes Al-Ettifaq in Riyadh. With Cristiano Ronaldo at the center of attention, uncertainty surrounding his involvement has added intrigue to an already crucial encounter. The home side enters the match in dominant form, sitting at the top of the table and pushing for a long-awaited league title. A five-point lead and a remarkable winning streak have placed Al-Nassr in a commanding position, but the pressure remains intense with only a handful of matches left. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq arrives looking to disrupt the momentum despite inconsistent performances in recent weeks. The stakes could hardly be higher as the league campaign approaches its decisive stretch. Al-Nassr has collected over 70 points and built one of the strongest attacking records in the competition, scoring freely while maintaining defensive stability. Its recent 2-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud reinforced its credentials as the team to beat. Al-Ettifaq, on the other hand, finds itself in a very different situation. Sitting seventh with mixed results, the team has struggled for consistency, including a recent 3-2 defeat that exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Despite that, their ability to challenge stronger opponents keeps this fixture unpredictable. Will Ronaldo play? As anticipation built, the focus inevitably shifted to whether Ronaldo would feature in such a crucial match. Cristiano Ronaldo will start and lead the attack, adding firepower to the lineup. The Portuguese partnership between Ronaldo and Joao Felix has added creativity and finishing power in the final third. The Portuguese forward returned from a recent hamstring injury in sharp form, scoring three goals in his last two appearances. His tally of 24 league goals and an astonishing 968 career goals underline his continued influence, even at this stage of his career. What’s more, he needs six more goals to surpass Mohammed Al-Sahlawi and become Al-Nassr’s all-time top goalscorer in the Saudi Pro League. Inigo Martinez and Cristiano Ronaldo in training Both sides enter the match with important squad updates that could influence the outcome. Al-Nassr will be without Angelo Gabriel after a fitness setback, while the return of Inigo Martinez strengthens the defensive options. Al-Nassr vs Al-Ettifaq: Confirmed lineups Al-Nassr confirmed XI (4-3-3): Bento; Martinez, Al Amri, Simakan, Boushal; Brozovic, Al Khaibari, Felix; Mane, Ronaldo, Coman. Al-Ettifaq confirmed XI (5-3-2): Rodak; Radi, Khateem, Jack, Calvo, Nkota; Duda, Medran; Wijnaldum; Al Ghannam; Dembele.

Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net once again, leading Al Nassr to a set a new record winning streak that boost the hopes of claiming the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hit the ground running since returning from his hamstring injury, finding the net once again for Al Nassr as the club collected another three points in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League. In doing so, Al Nassr have broken a club record for consecutive wins, further fueling their title aspirations. On Saturday, Al Nassr traveled to Al Okhdood, a side currently sitting 17th and deep in the relegation zone. The scoring was opened in the 15th minute when Nawaf Boushal slipped the ball through to Cristiano Ronaldo, who burst into the box, broke the defensive line and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Joao Felix then put the game to bed with a second goal in the 47th minute to seal a comfortable 2-0 victory. That win over Al Okhdood gave Al Nassr their 14th consecutive Saudi Pro League victory, setting a new club record for the longest winning streak in the competition’s history. The previous mark of 13 straight wins had stood since the 2013-14 season, and with Ronaldo as the centerpiece, the bar has now been raised. The run began on January 17 with a 3-2 victory over Al Shabab, coming on the heels of a rough start to 2026 that had seen Al Nassr suffer three consecutive defeats. Since that turning point, the club has not dropped a single point in the SPL, scoring 39 goals and conceding just six across those 14 matches, showing marked improvement at both ends of the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr reacts. Ronaldo missed four of those wins, two in February due to his boycott of the league and two more in March while sidelined with his hamstring injury. Still, across the 10 games in which he featured during the streak, the Portuguese legend made his presence felt with nine goals and one assist, a reminder that the transition from 40 to 41 years old has done little to diminish his impact. A streak that carries good omens for Al Nassr The three points against Al Okhdood did more than just extend the winning run; they also widened the gap between Al Nassr and their closest rivals. Ronaldo’s side now sits atop the SPL with 73 points from 28 games, five clear of second-placed Al Hilal, and the historical parallel is hard to ignore. In the 2013-14 season, that previous record streak of 13 wins ran from Matchday 10, when Al Nassr beat Al Hilal 2-1, through to Matchday 22 and a 2-1 victory over Al Ettifaq. Crucially, the last time Al Nassr put together such a dominant winning run, they went on to lift the Saudi Pro League title, a fact that will not be lost on Ronaldo and his teammates as they chase their first league crown since the 2018-19 season. Al Nassr still far from the all-time SPL record Six games remain in the 2025-26 SPL campaign, and while Al Nassr will be looking to keep the streak alive, even a perfect run to the finish line would still leave them well short of the all-time record. That benchmark belongs to Al Hilal, who put together a staggering 24 consecutive league victories during the 2023-24 season, a campaign they ultimately crowned with the title under the management of current Al Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus.

The Saudi Pro League continues to build tension at both ends of the table as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr prepares for a crucial league clash against Al-Okhdood, while the home side fights to avoid relegation. The Saudi Pro League continues to build tension at both ends of the table as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr prepares for a crucial league clash against Al-Okhdood, while the home side fights to avoid relegation. The spotlight naturally falls on Ronaldo once again, as the league leader aims to extend its dominant run and tighten its grip on the title race. At the same time, Al-Okhdood enters the fixture in a desperate battle for survival, sitting deep in the relegation zone despite a recent lift in form. The contrast between a title-chasing giant and a struggling underdog sets the tone for a match that carries very different stakes for each club. Al-Okhdood’s season has been defined by inconsistency, defensive issues, and a constant fight against relegation pressure. Its recent 1-0 win over Al-Fateh offered a rare moment of relief, but its position remains precarious as the season nears its conclusion. On the other end of the spectrum, Al-Nassr arrives in breathtaking form under Jorge Jesus. The club has built a 13-match winning streak in the league, supported by relentless attacking output and defensive stability. Its most recent victory, a 5-2 win over Al-Najma, highlighted the firepower within the squad, with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane scoring twice. The team has also been dominant away from home, winning its last eight consecutive away matches. With 70 points, the Riyadh side sits at the top of the table, edging closer to a long-awaited league title. Will Ronaldo play? All eyes will once again be on Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to play a decisive role in the club’s title charge. Despite intense competition in the scoring charts, he remains central to Al-Nassr’s attacking structure and leadership on the pitch. He will lead the line, with support from wide players, Kingsley Coman and Sadio Mane, providing constant service into the box. The veteran’s influence extends beyond goals, as his presence continues to shape the club’s mentality during high-pressure moments in the title race. Joao Felix celebrates scoring their third goal with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr In fact, Al-Okhdood supporters reportedly plan to honor the Portuguese by chanting his name in the seventh minute of the match. The purpose of this gesture is to show admiration for the veteran superstar and his impact since joining the Saudi Pro League. What’s more, Ronaldo is within touching distance of another remarkable milestone, having already amassed 97 goals in 100 Saudi Pro League games. He reportedly needs a hat-trick in this clash to match the record for the fastest player to reach 100 league goals, a benchmark currently held by Abderrazak Hamdallah. Al-Okhdood vs Al-Nassr: Confirmed lineups Al-Okhdood confirmed XI (4-4-2): Portugal; Al-Zabdani, Gul, Gunter, Al Qaydhi; Pedroza; Borrell, Al Hatila, Narey; Bassogog, Al-Lazam. Al-Nassr confirmed XI (4-3-3): Bento; Ayman, Al Amri, Simakan, Boushal; Brozovic, Angelo, Joao Felix; Mane, Ronaldo, Coman.