Al Nassr returned to Saudi Pro League action in emphatic style on December 27, 2025, dispatching Al Okhdood 3-0 at a buzzing Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh. The Knights of Najd, led by the ever-prolific Cristiano Ronaldo, extended their perfect record in the league to a staggering ten wins from ten matches, further solidifying their position at the summit of the table.
Fans poured into Al-Awwal Park with high expectations, and they were not disappointed. Al Nassr, coming off a month-long league hiatus, looked refreshed and hungry from the opening whistle. Their last league outing, a convincing 4-1 victory over Al Khaleej, had set the tone, and a midweek 5-1 rout of Al Zawraa in the AFC Champions League Two only heightened anticipation. For Al Okhdood, the task was daunting—they sat 18th in the standings, having managed just one win and two draws in nine previous league matches.
The match kicked off at 9:50 a.m. local time, and right from the outset, Al Nassr seized control. Within the first ten minutes, Kingsley Coman nearly opened the scoring, forcing Al Okhdood's goalkeeper Samuel Portugal into a sharp save. Moments later, Abdulelah Al Amri and Joao Felix both tested the visitors' defense, underlining Al Nassr's intent to press early and hard.
Al Okhdood, to their credit, did carve out a few nervy moments for the home crowd. Khaled Narey, their leading attacker, almost stunned the stadium with a low drive, but Nawaf Alaqidi in the Al Nassr goal responded with a crucial save. Yet, the visitors struggled to maintain possession and rarely threatened again as the half wore on.
It was only a matter of time before the pressure told. In the 30th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock, finishing smartly from a corner to send the home fans into raptures. The Portuguese superstar, already with ten league goals this season, showed the predatory instincts that have made him a legend worldwide. Al Nassr kept their foot on the pedal, and just before the break, Ronaldo doubled the lead. A slick move saw him receive the ball in the area and finish with authority past Samuel Portugal, making it 2-0 as the first half drew to a close.
At halftime, the statistics painted a clear picture: Al Nassr dominated possession, chances, and territory. For Al Okhdood, the challenge was steep—they needed a spark to ignite any hope of a comeback. Their coach, Paulo Sérgio, made changes, bringing on Blaz Kramer for Khaled Narey before the interval. But Al Nassr, under the guidance of Jorge Jesus, remained organized and relentless.
"He scored a wonderful goal, similar to the one he scored for Juventus. His contribution is constant, both on and off the field. I don't know who can stop Al Nassr... I know there are no unbeatable teams in the world. We are focused on the league and the Asian Champions League 2. We want to compete with strength and intensity. Record? We'll try to beat it in the next game," said Jorge Jesus, reflecting on Ronaldo’s performance and the team’s ambitions.
The second half saw more of the same. Al Nassr's midfield trio—Marcelo Brozovic, Wesley, and Angelo Gabriel—controlled the tempo, snuffing out any Al Okhdood advances. The visitors’ frustration boiled over in the 60th minute, when Saeed Al-Rubaie received a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Joao Felix.
Al Nassr thought they had a third goal in the 66th minute when Ronaldo found the net again, only for the referee to rule it out for offside. The home side continued to rotate, with substitutions bringing fresh legs and energy. Wesley and Sultan Al-Ghannam made way for Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Saad Fahad Al-Nasser, while Marcelo Brozovic and Kingsley Coman were replaced by Ali Al-Hassan and Salem Alnajdi in the closing stages.
Al Okhdood, meanwhile, shuffled their pack with multiple changes—Burak Ince and Ali Al-Salem were replaced by Saleh Al-Harthi and Sale Al Abbas, and later Juan Pedroza and Mateo Borrell made way for Hussain Al Zabdani and Abdulaziz Al Hatila. Despite these moves, they struggled to break down Al Nassr’s disciplined backline, marshaled by Abdulelah Al Amri and Iñigo Martínez.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Al Nassr put the game to bed. Joao Felix, who had been lively throughout, capped his performance with a well-taken goal in the 93rd minute, firing home from the middle of the area to seal a 3-0 victory. The final whistle confirmed a dominant display—Al Nassr’s tenth consecutive league win, and a clean sheet to boot.
“In games, he’s the second fastest on the team and the third fastest at sprints above 25 km/h. It’s something out of the ordinary, even physically,” Jorge Jesus said of Ronaldo, highlighting both the star’s athleticism and professionalism. “As a person, he’s a very intelligent man. He knows much more than just football.”
For Al Okhdood, the defeat underlined the gulf in class but also provided valuable lessons as they fight for survival. Their recent 1-1 draw with Al Shabab showed resilience, but against Al Nassr, opportunities were few and far between. The visitors’ only real sights of goal came early, with Narey and Petros testing Alaqidi, but the home defense stood tall throughout.
Al Nassr’s victory keeps them firmly atop the Saudi Pro League, with Ronaldo and Joao Felix now boasting 12 and 12 league goals respectively—a remarkable partnership. The team’s next challenge will be to maintain this relentless pace as the season progresses, with eyes on both domestic and continental glory.
Looking ahead, Al Nassr’s focus will shift to their upcoming league fixtures and the continuation of their Asian Champions League campaign. With Jorge Jesus at the helm and a squad brimming with talent, the Knights of Najd look poised to continue their march. As for Al Okhdood, regrouping and finding consistency will be crucial if they’re to climb out of the relegation zone.
As the dust settles on another commanding performance, Al Nassr’s fans can savor a perfect league record, a star-studded squad in full flight, and the prospect of more history in the making. The Saudi Pro League title race is heating up, and with Ronaldo leading the charge, anything seems possible for the Riyadh giants.
