Ronaldo takes the lead for AI Nassr

 Al Nassr beats 10-man Al Ittihad 5-2 as Ronaldo and Mane score two goals each in the Saudi Pro League

Al Nassr beats Al Ittihad by three goals at the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on December 27 as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane score two goals each against the Karim Benzema lead side.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:43

Full-time! ITT 2-5 NAS

Al Nassr goes back home with three points in the bag as it brushed Al Ittihad aside. It was all sqaure after half-time but Fabinho’s sending off proved costly for the home side since it conceded three goals, one from Cristiano Ronaldo and two from Sadio Mane. The 10-man Ittihad never seemed like making a comeback as Nassr comfortably sealed the win and closed its gap from the league leaders, Al Hilal. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:36

90+3’

Benzema takes a shot from distance but saved comfortably by Alaqidi. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:34

90’

9 more minutes as added time. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:28

86’

Otavio and Mane subbed off. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:25

GOAL

82’ - Mane strikes again!

Al Nassr makes it five as Otavia plays an amazing through ball to Mane right in front of the goal as Mane taps it in again. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:18

GOAL

75’ - Mane makes it four!

Sadio Mane scores the fourth goal and extends the lead against 10-man Ittihad. Talisca was in on goal but plays a final pass across goal fooling the keeper as Sadio Mane finishes in an empty goal. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:15

72’

Ronadlo fires one away from afar but saved by Ittihad’s Almayuof.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:12

70’A

Yellow to Lajami.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:09

GOAL

68’ - Ronaldo takes the lead for Nassr!

Ronaldo scores from the spot again with a perfect bottom left-corner finish!

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:09

PENALTY

66’ - Penalty to Nassr, Fabinho sent-off

Penalty given to Nassr as Fabinho strikes Otavio’s face inside the box. Referee went to check the VAR footage and Fabinho is awarded a red!

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:01

60’

Fabinho gets a yellow for a tackle on Mane near the edge of the box. Ronaldo takes it but over the bar for a goal-kick.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 01:01

59’

Kante plays a cross to Benzema who was inside the box as the French striker collects it on the chest and finishes it towards the far-post, just misses the target. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:59

57’

Nassr passes it around the box looking for an opening as Telles takes a shot from afar, however, wide off of the target. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:56

53’

Hamdallah was close to his hat-trick as he was through on goal, but his finish was stopped by the keeper. Benzema got the ball on the rebound but failed to score in front of an open goal!

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:54

GOAL

52’ - Ittihad equalises!

Ittihad gets back on level terms as Coronado crosses it from the right from a free-kick to Hamdallah, who was left unmarked inside the box and headed it into the net with ease. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:49

46’

Talisca was in on goal but Kadish makes a perfect sliding tackle inside the box to keep the scores the same. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:47

Second half begins!

Ittidad kicks the game off again as it trails by a solitary goal.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:30

Half-time! ITT 1-2 NAS

Al Nassr ahead at half-time as it looks stronger out of the two sides, however, Ittihad has had its moments. The home side striked first and created a lot of chances as we approached the final embers of the first half. Al Nassr is ahead, but will be looking to extend its lead since Ittihad is right on its toes. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:28

45+12’

Benzema plays a strong pass to Romarinho inside the box but Al Nassr’ maintains its form at the back and defends the ball well. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:27

45+11’

Telles awarded a yellow card for his challeneg on Hamdallah.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:23

45+7’

The ball goes in the air as Hawsawi tries to reach it, but Mane runs on the defender and almost wins the ball with the high press. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:18

45+3’

Hamdallah takes a shot from the edge of the box but the wide off of the target. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:18

45’

12 minutes added as added time. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:13

41’

Ronaldo chips it high to Fofana but the ball is cleared away from the box. Benzema makes the counter attacking run with the ball but Nassr’s backline falls back efficiently and stops him. Romarinho was in on goal and takes a shot but stopped by Nassr’s Alaqidi. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:11

YELLOW CARD

40’

Kante pulls down Alex Telles, deep into the Ittihad box. Awarded a yellow card. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:10

GOAL

38’ - Talisca makes it two for Nassr!

Telles puts a cross in for Talisca who chests the ball inside the box, cuts the other way, and finds the net with a simple finish!

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:08

37’

Mane dribbles from the right wing to the goaline as he cuts in and tries to pass it inside the box, but cleared by his former teammate, Fabinho. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:07

35’

Talisca puts a cross in from the right flank to a leaping Ronaldo, but the ball goes over the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s head. 

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:01

30’

Coronado takes the free-kick from 25 yards away, the ball is deflected away for a corner.

·         DECEMBER 27, 2023 00:00

YELLOW CARD

29’

Benzema brought down by Fofana. Yellow card awarded. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:59

YELLOW CARD

28’ - Yellow to Alghamdi

Yellow to Alghamdi for diving inside the box. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:57

27’

Coronado takes it, crosses it to Romarinho, who heads it over the bar. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:56

26’

Hamdallah brought down by Brozovic at the edge of the box. A chance from the free-kick for Ittihad. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:56

25’

Al Nassr awarded a corner. Telles takes it and delivers towards Ronaldo, cleared away to Talisca who takes a volley but wide from the target. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:55

24’

Coronado was in on goal for Ittihad but Laporte shields him away from the ball. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:53

22’ - Ronaldo hits the crossbar!

Mane plays a through to a sprinting Ronaldo who reaches the ball and was in on goal. He tries to finish in the top-right corner but hits the cross-bar. Al Nassr misses a big chance. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:50

GOAL

19’ - Ronaldo scores from the spot!

Ronaldo steps up to take the penalty. Starts with his iconic run-up and SCORES right down the middle. Al Nassr equalises!

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:49

PENALTY

17’ - Penalty to Al Nassr!

Late challenge by Hawsawi on Otavio. Foul given to Al Nassr. The ball goes into the box from a free-kick as Benzema boots Hakami in a duel inside the box. Penalty awarded to Al Nassr!

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:47

16’

Ronald is fouled from a tackle from behind near the halfway line. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:45

GOAL

14’ - Ittihad strikes first!

Hamdallah dribbles into the box and beats three defenders before striking the ball into the net from the near post. Al Itiihad takes the lead at home. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:44

13’ - Al Nassr comes close!

Talisca takes a long shot which is stopped by the keeper, but Otavio reaches it on the rebound, backheels it towards Ronaldo, but the pass is intercepted!

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:42

11’ - Ronaldo scores but ruled offside!

Ronaldo scores from an early cross by Telles from the left but ruled offside. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:40

9’

Telles tries to play a through ball to Mane but it is stopped beautifully by a sliding Hawsawi for Ittihad.

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:39

18’

Telles plays a cross towards the far post to Talisca who could head it goal-wards but tries to pass it to Ronaldo at the centre of the box, however, it is intercepted by Ngolo Kante. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:36

6’

Al Nassr holds the possession and plays around the box but Talisca loses the ball at the edge of the penalty area. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:33

3’

The keeper plays a long-ball to Ittihad’s Hamdallah but the attacker fails to control it. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 23:31

KICK-OFF!!!

Al Nassr kicks the game off as it dons its all-white away jersey. 

·         DECEMBER 26, 2023 22:55

Cristiano Ronaldo is in the starting lineup for Al Nassr!