In the match where Al Nassr was held to a 1-1 draw by Al Ahli in round 3 of the Saudi Arabian championship on the evening of September 13, Cristiano Ronaldo disappointed when he could not score.

After Euro 2024, Ronaldo scored in six consecutive matches in all competitions in the 2024-2025 season, with two matches in the Saudi Arabian Super Cup, two matches in the Saudi Arabian national championship and two matches in the UEFA Nations League with the Portuguese national team.

Al Nassr honours Cristiano Ronaldo before the match (Photo: ANFC).

 

Before the match against strong opponent Al Ahli at home on the evening of September 13, Al Nassr also gave Ronaldo a club shirt with the number 900, to show gratitude to the 39-year-old striker who just surpassed the 900-goal mark in his career.

Al Nassr entered the match with determination and the home team soon had a chance. In the 7th minute, Sadio Mane chose the right spot to head the ball past goalkeeper Mendy, but center-back Ibanez was there in time to save Al Ahli right on the goal line.

In the 24th minute, goalkeeper Mendy blocked Brozovic’s low shot. Five minutes later, Al Nassr was awarded a free kick right outside the penalty area but Ronaldo’s shot was too inaccurate.

Al Nassr had to accept being held back in the first 45 minutes as their strikers wasted too many chances. In the second half, Al Ahli unexpectedly opened the scoring. In the 57th minute, Kessie launched an attack and finished it himself with a tricky tap-in into the far corner of the goal, defeating Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento.

 

 

Ronaldo was lackluster in the match against Al Ahli (Photo: ANFC).

It seemed that Al Nassr had accepted defeat, but in the 90+9 minute, Al Ghannam shot from a narrow angle, the ball bounced off Al Hurayji’s foot and changed direction into the net, leaving goalkeeper Mendy helpless, bringing a 1-1 draw for the home team. Al Nassr has 5 points after 3 rounds and is currently ranked 6th in the Saudi Arabia league table.

Ronaldo’s lackluster performance earned him a rating of 6.4 points according to Fotmob , the lowest on the home side. Al Nassr had 19 shots in the match, Anderson Talisca had 6 chances but failed to score. The Brazilian striker still got 7.2 points while star Sadio Mane got 6.7 points.

Line-up

Al Nassr : Bento, Al Ghannam, Simakan, Laporte, Al Najdi, Al Khaibari, Brozovic, Talisca, Otavio, Mane, Ronaldo.

Goal : Al Hurayji (90+9′, own goal).

Al Ahli: Mendy, Majrashi, Demiral, Ibanez, Al Ammar, Aljohani, Kessie, Mahrez, Al Buraikan, Toney.

Goal : Kessie (57′).