Al-Nassr Moves Into Second Place After Win Over Al-Qadsiah

Al-Nassr climbed to second place in the Saudi Professional League on Thursday after a convincing 3-0 victory against Al-Qadsiah, leapfrogging Al-Ahli on goal difference. The win brings Al-Nassr to 43 points from 18 matches, while league leaders Al-Hilal could only manage a 2-2 draw at Al-Qadsiah earlier in the week.

The match remained goalless at halftime, but Al-Nassr broke the deadlock shortly after the restart. Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 47th minute following a well-worked move, with Portuguese teammate Joao Felix providing the assist from close range. Al-Nassr doubled their advantage six minutes later when Felix’s corner was headed home firmly by Mohammed Simakan.

Felix nearly added his name to the scoresheet with an audacious “rabona” attempt, which would have been a contender for the season’s goal of the year, but Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani tipped the shot over the bar. The home side was reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute when Hatan Bahbri received a red card. Kingsley Coman secured the victory from the penalty spot in the final minutes, rounding off a dominant performance by the visitors.

Al-Ahli maintained second place on points but fell behind Al-Nassr due to goal difference after defeating Al-Ettifaq 4-0 on Wednesday. Al-Hilal continues to lead the table but faces increased pressure as the race for the top spots tightens with only a few matches remaining in the season.

In other SPL action on Friday, Neom defeated Damac 3-0 at home, moving up to ninth place in the standings. Damac remains in 16th position, continuing to struggle in the lower half of the table.

Al-Taawoun secured a narrow 1-0 home win over Al-Okhdood, holding onto fifth place. The defeat leaves Al-Okhdood in 17th, second from the bottom, and in urgent need of points to avoid relegation.

The latest round of results highlights the competitive nature of the league’s upper half, with Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli both applying pressure on leaders Al-Hilal. The mid-table battle also remains intense, as teams like Neom and Al-Taawoun look to consolidate their positions while avoiding a slip toward the relegation zone.

Al-Nassr will now prepare for their next fixture with confidence, having showcased strong attacking combinations led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix. Their recent form suggests they are serious contenders for the title, while Al-Hilal will aim to respond quickly to maintain their lead at the top of the table.