In a stunning turn of events in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr faced a major setback as they fell 2-1 to Al-Qadisiyah at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium. The defeat, which occurred on April 19, 2025, marked a significant moment in the league as Al-Nassr struggled to maintain their position in the race for an AFC Champions League spot.
Al-Qadisiyah started the match with a bang, taking the lead in the 35th minute through Turki Al-Ammar. The home side capitalized on a defensive lapse from Al-Nassr, with Al-Ammar finding the back of the net after a rebound from an initial save. Al-Nassr, featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane, appeared to be on the back foot for much of the first half, with Ronaldo unable to make a significant impact despite his efforts.
Just when it seemed like Al-Nassr would be heading for a loss, Sadio Mane equalized in the 84th minute, sending a wave of hope through the visiting supporters. Mane's goal came from a beautifully lobbed assist by Otavio, who managed to bypass the Al-Qadisiyah defense. The winger carried the ball into the box and fired past goalkeeper Koen Casteels, giving Al-Nassr a glimpse of a potential comeback.
However, the joy was short-lived for Al-Nassr as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the former Arsenal star, struck decisively just three minutes later. In the 87th minute, Aubameyang scored the winner with a looping header that left Al-Nassr's defense scrambling. The goal came after Nahitan Nandez delivered a precise cross into the box, catching the Al-Nassr defense off guard.
Al-Nassr's head coach, Stefano Pioli, expressed his disappointment in the post-match press conference, acknowledging that Al-Qadisiyah deserved the win. “It was a tough match between the two teams, and Al-Qadisiyah deserved to win. I don’t see that we were bad; we played very well, but we do not underestimate the level of competition,” Pioli stated. He further elaborated on his team’s inability to capitalize on their chances, saying, “We did not capitalize on the opportunities we had, unlike Al-Qadisiyah, who took advantage of two chances and scored to achieve victory.”
The loss leaves Al-Nassr in a precarious position, sitting third in the league standings with 57 points from 28 games. Their rivals, Al-Hilal, solidified their second-place position with a commanding 3-0 victory over Al-Khaleej, bringing their total to 61 points. Meanwhile, league leaders Al-Ittihad remain at the top with 65 points, despite suffering a surprising 2-0 defeat to Al-Fateh.
Ronaldo, who was expected to shine in this match, ended up having a quiet night. The Portuguese forward, who has been a key player for Al-Nassr this season, failed to find the net or provide an assist. His performance, alongside that of his £64.5 million strike partner Jhon Duran, was underwhelming, raising questions about Al-Nassr’s attacking prowess as the season approaches its climax.
Despite the setback, Pioli remains focused on the upcoming matches, emphasizing the need for his players to regain their form. “We lost a very important match, and each match has its circumstances. Sometimes we lose due to bad luck, and sometimes we succeed, score, and win. We should not have lost this match; it was unexpected, but we must work to regain our form until the end of the season,” he concluded.
As the league progresses, Al-Nassr must regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind in the race for a Champions League spot. With only a few matches left in the season, every point is crucial, and the pressure is mounting on the players to deliver results. The upcoming fixtures will be critical, as they look to bounce back from this disappointing defeat and reclaim their position among the league's elite.
In other matches, Al-Ahli continues to push for a Champions League place, showcasing their strength with impressive performances. Meanwhile, Damac leapfrogged Al-Kholood with a 3-1 victory, as Georges-Kevin N'Koudou netted two penalties in the first half to put his team in control.
As the Saudi Pro League season unfolds, fans are left to wonder if Al-Nassr can recover from this loss and make a strong push for the title. With the likes of Ronaldo and Mane in their ranks, the potential is there, but they will need to find their rhythm and convert opportunities into goals as they head down the final stretch of the season.
