Al-Nassr secured a commanding 3-1 victory against Al-Fateh on January 26, 2025, at Al-Awwal Park, marking another stellar performance for Cristiano Ronaldo as he led his team to success.
The match saw Ronaldo netting his 14th league goal this season, contributing to his impressive tally of 20 goals across all competitions. The victory was especially significant for the Knights of Najd, who aimed to improve their standing within the Saudi Pro League, currently eight points behind the leaders.
Al-Nassr started the game with clear dominance and almost took the lead just before the halftime break. A misdirected clearance from Marwane Saadane instead led to Saadane putting the ball past his own goalkeeper, giving Al-Nassr the 1-0 advantage just before the 41st minute. This own goal seemed to relieve some early pressure as Al-Nassr had continuously attempted to find the net, with both Sadio Mane and Ronaldo coming close early on.
The second half continued with Al-Nassr's momentum, and Mohamed Simakan doubled their lead at the 57th minute. He soared high to direct an inviting free-kick from Angelo past Al-Fateh’s keeper, Peter Szappanos. At this stage, the match seemed firmly under Al-Nassr's control, but things took a turn with 15 minutes left to play.
Al-Fateh's Mourad Batna capitalized on Krepski’s inexplicable effort to dribble out from the back, scoring and reducing the deficit to 2-1, injecting tension back onto the pitch. Nonetheless, Ronaldo put the game to rest three minutes before the final whistle, finishing off a counter-attack involving Mane and Angelo, proving again why he remains one of the most formidable players on the field.
Despite his success, Ronaldo had two goals disallowed for offside, but his contributions were enough to earn him the Player of the Match title, highlighting again why he is pivotal for Al-Nassr. This latest victory puts his team firmly above Al-Qadsiah, moving them to third place with 35 points from 17 games.
Fans, though pleased with the result, expressed discontent toward goalkeeper Bento Krepski after his mistake led to Al-Fateh’s solitary goal. Various supporters turned to social media to voice their frustrations, with some calling for Krepski to be replaced or even blaming the club’s management for acquiring him. Comments like, "Nasrawi's would rather the club dispense with Laporte or Ronaldo than Bento," reflected the severity of their feelings about Krepski’s performance.
Bento had previously joined Al-Nassr to replace former starter Nawaf Al-Aqidi, yet his inconsistent showings have led many to doubt the decision, showcasing just how harshly fans can judge performances after costly mistakes. Amidst these issues, Ronaldo's consistent excellence shines even brighter, placing him firmly at the forefront of the league's Golden Boot race, currently sitting atop the goalscoring table.
The encounter against Al-Fateh not only underscored Ronaldo's capabilities but also served as a wake-up call for teammates like Krepski, reminding the squad of the highs and lows associated with high-stakes football. With 20 goals now this season and three assists to his name, Ronaldo continues to define excellence for Al-Nassr, steering them through challenges as they set their eyes on closing the gap to league leaders Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.
Moving forward, Al-Nassr’s focus will undoubtedly be on consistency and teamwork, capitalizing on their current form and addressing their defensive frailties. With their next match on the horizon, fans will eagerly await to see if Ronaldo and his squad can maintain their upward momentum and possibly mount a serious challenge for the league title.