Al-Nassr secured a golden victory against Al-Ahli (2-0) at Al-Awwal Park, moving closer to their first Saudi Pro League title in six years. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kingsley Coman were the heroes in a high-stakes encounter marked by tactical discipline and pre-match tension.
Pre-Match Drama: Al-Nassr Decline Guard of Honor for Asian Champions
The atmosphere was electric at Al-Awwal Park for this Matchday 30 clash. Al-Ahli entered the pitch with high spirits after successfully defending their AFC Champions League Elite title for the second consecutive year. Conversely, Al-Nassr were equally motivated, having secured a spot in the AFC Champions League 2 final, where they are set to face Japan’s Gamba Osaka next month.
Despite calls from media figures and Saudi football legend Sami Al-Jaber to perform a “Guard of Honor” (Pasillo) for the Asian Champions to show sportsmanship, Al-Nassr declined. This decision added a layer of tension to the start of the match. Cristiano Ronaldo notably maintained his firm stance against the tradition, reminiscent of his 2018 refusal to grant a Guard of Honor to Barcelona during his Real Madrid days.
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores 970th Career Goal
The first half was a tactical stalemate, recorded as one of the quietest periods in the Saudi Pro League this season with an Expected Goals (xG) of just 0.18. However, the second half saw Jorge Jesus’s men increase the intensity.
In the 76th minute, the deadlock was finally broken. Cristiano Ronaldo rose highest to power home a header, marking his:
- 25th league goal of the season.
- 970th career goal, bringing him closer to the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
Ronaldo currently sits third in the Golden Boot race, trailing Ivan Toney (27 goals) and Al-Qadsiah’s Julian Quiñones (28 goals).
9️⃣7️⃣0️⃣ هدف ⚽️
الأسطورة كريستيانو رونالدو يواصل طريقه نحو الألفية 🐐30 هدفًا فقط تفصله 🔥⏳ pic.twitter.com/OYygCcuhRL
— رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) April 29, 2026
Kingsley Coman Seals the Win and Ends Al-Ahli’s Title Hopes
As Al-Ahli pushed for an equalizer, Al-Nassr struck again on the counter. In the 90th minute, Kingsley Coman unleashed a powerful strike from inside the penalty area that left Edouard Mendy with no chance.
Current Saudi Pro League Standings (Top 3):
- Al-Nassr: 79 points (Leaders)
- Al-Hilal: 71 points (With a game in hand)
- Al-Ahli: 66 points (Mathematically out of the title race)
With only four rounds remaining, Al-Ahli’s 10-year wait for a league title continues. For Al-Nassr, the path to the trophy now goes through a massive Riyadh Derby later this month, which will likely decide the champion.
كينقسلي كومان يضيف الهدف الثاني لصالح النصر، ويقرّبه من النصر 🚀🟡
قصة هدف النصر الثاني كاملًا 🎥⚽️#النصر_الأهلي | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/L48QIYXX9a
— رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) April 29, 2026
Next Match: Al-Nassr vs Al-Qadsiah
The “Knights of Najd” face another tough test in Matchday 31 as they travel to Dammam to face 4th-placed Al-Qadsiah.
- Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Venue: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium
- Kick-off: 21:00 (Makkah Time)
