Saudi Pro League top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo struck his 25th goal of the season in all competitions and provided an assist for Otavio as Al Nassr returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory at home to midtable Al Riyadh.
On his 1,200th professional appearance, Ronaldo produced an improvisational finish with his studs to meet the first of two assists by Sadio Mane, putting his side on their way to victory in the 31st minute before setting up fellow Portugal international Otavio to head in on the stroke of halftime.
Talisca added a third from Mane’s pass 22 minutes into the second half and nodded in an added-time fourth from Sultan Al-Ghannam’s cross as second-placed Al Nassr reduced the gap on leaders Al Hilal to seven points again.
Al Riyadh did not have a shot during the first half but scored a consolation a minute after the hosts’ third when Andre Gray slotted in from Juanmi’s pass.
Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh result
1st half2nd half Goal scorers Al Nassr 1 3 Cristiano Ronaldo (31), Otavio (45+3, 90+3), Talisca (67) Al Riyadh 0 1 Andre Gray (68)
The greatest threat to Al Nassr’s three-game winless run being extended was Saleh Al Abbas, the striker nearing the penalty area on speedy runs along the left on more than one occasion and scoring with a composed finish that was correctly deemed offside shortly before Otavio’s goal.
Goalkeeper Martin Campana kept a fierce Ronaldo free-kick out among several fine saves, and Al Nassr were denied a penalty by a VAR check when Birama Toure was accused of handling the ball while making a 15th-minute goalline clearance.
Having lost 3-0 at Al Hilal in their previous league match, Al Nassr will be hoping for a second successive win when they visit Al Shabab in the King Cup quarterfinals on Monday.
Al Hilal won 2-1 at Al Tai earlier on Friday to remain unbeaten after 16 matches of the top-flight campaign.
The Sporting News followed the match live and provided updates and highlights below.
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Starting lineups:
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Laporte, Lajami, Yahya — Brozovic, Fofana — Mane, Otavio, Talisca — Ronaldo.
Al Riyadh starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Campana (GK) — Al-Shuwayyi, Arslanagic, Al-Rashidi, Al-Khaibari — Toure, Al-Rashidi — Al-Dossari, Ndong, Al-Shehri — Al Abbas.
Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh live updates, highlights, commentary
Fulltime: Al Nassr 4-1 Al Riyadh
Al Nassr are back to winning ways and close the gap on Al Hilal to seven points!
This was a comfortable win against opponents who did not have a shot during the first half, although they scored a consolation with the score at 3-0. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 1,200th game ends in victory!
Al Nassr’s players celebrate with their fans after recording their 12th RSL win of the season! 🙌#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/ODwUplLlQL
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
90 +3 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Talisca nods in the fourth, unmarked at the far post from Sultan’s lofted cross!
Talisca netted is second of the night from a great Sultan cross 🎯#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/VVxbbqWVjF
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
89 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Al Nassr clear the danger from Al Riyadh’s freekick.
88 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Ayman Yahya concedes a freekick in short-corner territory, as hockey might have it, for Al Riyadh. He’s booked for his trouble.
You suspect Al Riyadh have to score from here if they’re to mount a successful comeback.
85 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo drills a fierce first-time shot wide from inside the penalty area, putting his hands on his hips in a show of dissatisfaction.
Al Nassr are back on the front foot.
82 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo goes down under a robust challenge from Ahmed Asiri. That looked like a painful one. The Portugal captain is on his back and wincing.
Sadio Mane has also gone down with what looks like cramp.
79 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Here’s that Talisca goal.
🇧🇷 @talisca_aa gets his name on the scoresheet! 🙌#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/Y32tyvzdSq
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
76 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Al Nassr break in lightning fashion, Otavio charging into the penalty area at a speed which is perhaps too quick for his own good.
The second goalscorer slides in with an attempted shot and hits the side-netting, grimacing at not hitting the target. That may have taken a deflection.
74 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Nawaf Alaqidi advances from his penalty area to head a through-ball clear, and Al Riyadh then win a corner on the left, which Al Nassr clear.
71 mins: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh
Sure enough, Al Riyadh do look energised since that goal. They flash a succession of not-particularly-accurate crosses into the penalty area, the latest of which is caught by Al Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi.
68 mins: GOAL – Al Nassr 3-1 Al Riyadh (Andre Gray)
Andre Gray – a name perhaps familiar to fans in England – pulls one back with a neat finish after being teed up by Juanmi!
No clean sheet for Al Nassr, and perhaps a way back into the game for Al Riyadh. It seems unlikely given their lack of chances up to now, but that will give them confidence.
67 mins: GOAL – Al Nassr 3-0 Al Riyadh (Talisca)
Now Sadio Mane turns provider!
The Senegal superstar bristles with skill inside the box on the left. Just when his markers suspect they might get a breather, Mane slides a low pass onto the run of Talisca in space in front of goal, who fires in!
64 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo toys with his markers inside the box and hangs a cross onto the head of Talisca, who powers his effort over the target.
61 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Otavio holds his head in his hands after flashing a low cross along the face of goal from inside the penalty area on the right.
Had anyone connected, it’s unlikely that would have stayed out.
58 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
The pattern of the first half has resumed, with Al Nassr keeping Al Riyadh inside their own half and attempting to find space inside the penalty area.
55 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Martin Campana returns to his feet but still looks hurt. His team-mates are checking he’s OK and there’s a bit of debate on the Al Riyadh bench, presumably about whether he’ll need replacing.
52 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Beating Sadio Mane to a pass is an unenviable task. Goalkeeper Martin Campana ends up in a heap on the edge of his penalty area after trying it. Treatment required.
51 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo looks to dart onto the ball in front of goal but is thwarted by fine defending. Al Nassr are probing.
49 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Good work by Sultan Al-Ghannam, who shows nimble feet inside the penalty area to twist and turn his marker. It’s only a goalkick, though.
46 mins: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
Al Nassr restart the action!
Halftime: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh
That goal gives Al Nassr a comfortable lead, coming shortly after Al Riyadh demonstrated their threat by scoring a goal that was offside.
It looks like a huge mountain to climb for the 13th-placed side in the division, while Al Nassr are on course to reduce the gap to Al Hilal to seven points again.
45 +3 mins: GOAL – Al Nassr 2-0 Al Riyadh (Otavio)
Tremendous goal! Al Nassr break at speed, Al Riyadh discovering that they have committed too many players forward.
Cristiano Ronaldo enters the penalty area on the right, teases his marker – including several stepovers – and chips a perceptive cross into the path of Otavio, who’s made a darting run into space. The recipient powers his header past Martin Campana!
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
45 mins: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh
Al Riyadh have the ball in the Al Nassr net! It’s a beautiful, composed finish from Saleh Al Abbas after he breaks clear, but it’s also offside.
The dangerman for the visitors looks like he knew that was off. Aymeric Laporte stepped up well in time, showing all of his experience to spring the trap. But Al Riyadh are in this.
44 mins: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh
A sniff of danger for Al Riyadh for the first time in a long while. Saleh Al Abbas is on the edge of the Al Nassr penalty area on the left but can’t trouble the hosts.
41 mins: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh
Otavio has a decent opportunity with a right-footed volley, which he completely messes up.
38 mins: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh
Siu time. Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo combine!
In game number 1,200 of his career, @Cristiano opens the scoring for Al Nassr against Al Riyadh! 💪#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/MCQE5x9RNC
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
35 mins: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh
They’re still in this, but Al Riyadh are frequently being carved open and are toiling to gain any prolonged possession in this match.
Al Nassr have had all 11 attempts at goal, including five on target, and 74% of the ball.
32 mins: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh
Sadio Mane looked up on the left channel for that goal, spotting Cristiano Ronaldo at the far post and angling a marvellous cross into his path.
The Saudi Pro League top scorer produced something of an improvised finish, using his studs to divert the inswinging ball in from close range.
Goalkeeper Martin Campana is finally beaten!
31 mins: GOAL – Al Nassr 1-0 Al Riyadh (Cristiano Ronaldo)
Goal number 25 of the season for CR7!
Sadio Mane with the assist for @Cristiano to score his 16th RSL goal of the season! 🤝#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/gdAXhWg5jG
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
30 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo hangs in the air in that familiar style and lifts a header wide. Al Nassr have dominated this half since that early corner for Al Riyadh.
29 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Sadio Mane sprints down the left and cuts a pass back to Aymeric Laporte in front of goal. From a difficult angle, the defender can only steer his effort over the target.
28 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Another terrific save from Martin Campana!
Marcelo Brozovic sends an outswinging corner towards the far post and the goalkeeper makes a terrific save to keep a header out.
25 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
We’ve seen the replays from that Birama Toure clearance off the line a little earlier, and Al Nassr might have even more cause to feel frustrated following their failed appeal for the VAR to award a penalty.
The ball didn’t cross the line but it could scarcely have been any closer.
22 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Goalkeeper Martin Campana does it again! Campana probably should stop this but you wouldn’t want to try it yourself. Cristiano Ronaldo takes aim from the left of centre with a vicious, swerving low drive that bends in front of the Uruguayan.
Campana can’t hold it first time, and Ronaldo appears a little annoyed that his team-mates weren’t following up quickly enough to capitalise.
20 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Al Nassr have a freekick in Cristiano Ronaldo territory near the edge of the Al Riyadh penalty area.
18 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
No penalty is awarded. That would have been harsh, given Birama Toure’s apparent natural body position and the speed of that shot.
It remains goalless.
15 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Drama! A neat Al Nassr corner routine allows Otavio to cross for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose swerving strike is cleared off the line by midfielder Birama Toure.
Ronaldo is convinced it should be a penalty. Players surround the referee. A VAR check will take place. Ronaldo offers more of his opinion.
13 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Sadio Mane demonstrates his blistering pace, keeping a ball in near an Al Riyadh post that might well have gone out had any other player chased it.
Mane clips in a cross but no Al Nassr player can connect and the visitors defend stoutly.
11 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Great save! Seko Fofana sends in a close-range volley from a cross from the right, hitting his first-time shot with venom.
Goalkeeper Martin Campana descends rapidly and keeps the ball out with his legs.
8 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Not bad, Cristiano Ronaldo. But no doubt he’ll be more interested in closing the chasm-like gap on Al Hilal than landmarks right now. Al Nassr haven’t created a great deal here, although they’ve spent plenty of time inside Al Riyadh’s half.
5 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Al Nassr clear from the resulting corner from the left following that useful run from Al Abbas for Al Riyadh.
4 mins: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Saleh Al Abbas skips down the left and wins a corner after a well-timed challenge from the backtracking Sultan Al-Ghannam. Encouraging start for Al Riyadh.
1 min: Al Nassr 0-0 Al Riyadh
Al Riyadh are in predominantly red with black shorts tonight. Al Nassr are in their eye-catching new kit, which is largely white.
20 mins to kickoff: Elsewhere today, leaders Al Hilal have won 2-1 at Al Tai. That means they’re 10 points ahead of second-placed Al Nassr before kickoff.
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
40 mins to kickoff: Here’s how the visitors arrived.
📍 Match stadium 🏟️❤️#RiyadhFC pic.twitter.com/DtrT5d8uud
— Al-Riyadh Saudi Club (@AlRiyadhFC_EN) December 8, 2023
1 hour to kickoff: Here’s how Al Nassr start! Some handy attacking options, safe to say.
🗒 || Starting lineup,@AlNassrFC vs #AlRiyadh pic.twitter.com/mpRmxoqwS0
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 8, 2023
1 hour 20 mins to kickoff: New Cristiano Ronaldo shirt incoming…
Al Nassr will be debuting their new kit today 👀🆕#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/FOuIM4rra5
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 8, 2023
1 hour 40 mins to kickoff: Al Riyadh enter this game on a three-match unbeaten run, although they’ve drawn two of those – most recently a goalless stalemate with Al Hazm on November 30.
⏳ Nine o’clock.. Our appointment is at Al-Awwal Park 🏟❤#RiyadhFC pic.twitter.com/zsSF9PaFdR
— Al-Riyadh Saudi Club (@AlRiyadhFC_EN) December 8, 2023
2 hours to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of today’s Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh. We’ll have build-up, team news and live coverage coming up as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane’s side aim to get their league season back on track following their 3-0 defeat at leaders Al Hilal.
Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh lineups
Ronaldo captained Al Nassr in this match after being rested for the draw in Tajikstan. Castro rotated the majority of his side for that game, with a spot in the AFC Champions League already secured, and Ronaldo nursing a neck injury.
The Portuguese superstar joined a list of recalls including Sadio Mane and Talisca.
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Laporte, Lajami, Yahya — Brozovic, Fofana — Mane, Otavio, Talisca — Ronaldo.
Al Riyadh headed into this game on the back of a three-match unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League, and head coach
Odair Hellman went with minimal changes.
Al Riyadh starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Campana (GK) — Al-Shuwayyi, Arslanagic, Al-Rashidi, Al-Khaibari — Toure, Al-Rashidi — Al-Dossari, Ndong, Al-Shehri — Al Abbas.
Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh live stream, TV channel
TV channel Streaming USA Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes Fox Sports app/website Australia — 10 Play Canada — DAZN UK — DAZN India Sony TEN 2 JioTV, Sony LIV
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