Al Nassr vs Al Ahli H2H: Ronaldo takes on Mahrez and co

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On Friday night, Al Nassr will face Al Ahli in a Saudi Pro League fixture that will garner plenty of attention across the globe. Some of the game’s biggest names will be action, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino. Al Ahli have a chance to go top of the table with a win while a win would keep Al Nassr in touching distance of league leader, Al-Ittihad.

Al Nassr vs Al Ahli H2H: The story so far

Al Nasse and Al Ahli are two of the most prestigious clubs in Saudi football and have both received investment from the PIF in recent times. In total, Al Nassr and Al Ahli have played each other on 62 occasions throughout history, and the record between the two teams is very close.

• Al Nassr wins: 25
• Draws: 14
• Al Ahli wins: 23

Although the overall record suggests that these two clubs are evenly matched, the recent head-to-head record suggests something very different. Al Ahli have won just one of their previous nine clashes with Al Nassr and will be desperate to put an end to that run tonight.

History in the making

If Cristiano Ronaldo gets on the scoresheet on Friday night, then he will have scored in five consecutive league games for Al Nassr for the first time. While has done this on countless occasions throughout his career, doing it for the first time in Saudi Arabia will feel special at 38 years of age.

▪️ 6 games
▪️ 7 goals
▪️ 5 assists

Cristiano Ronaldo has 12 goal contributions for Al Nassr this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KtyOLpG7St

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 18, 2023

Al Nassr vs Al Ahli: Last five H2H matches

Al Nassr 1-1 Al Ahli

The last time these two teams played against each other was at a time before even Cristiano Ronaldo had made the move to Saudi Arabia. It was the final day of the 2021/22 season and it was the day that Al Ahli’s relegation was sealed in dramatic fashion. The away team were seemingly on the way to a famous victory until Anderson Talisca scored in the 95th minute to level the game and send Al-Ahli down.

Al Ahli 1-2 Al Nassr

Earlier in Al Ahli’s relegation season, the two teams played at the Shining Jewel Stadium. A Talisca double gave the away side a comfortable lead before Alioski brought one back for Al-Ahli in the 84th minute. After a nervy finish, Al Nassr held on to the three points which kept them in the hunt for the title.

Al Ahli 1-2 Al Nassr

Late goals are a theme in clashes between Al Ahli and Al Nassr and another one was scored during their match in March 2021. The score was level at 1-1 going into the final five minutes before Al Nassr’s Abderrazak Hamdallah, who now plays for Al-Ittihad, netted to earn the away side a valuable three points.

Al Nassr 1-2 Al Ahli

The last time Al Ahli defeated Al Nassr came in December 2020. Once again, it was a late goal that sealed the win but for once, Al Ahli were the beneficiaries. An 89th-minute penalty from Moroccan, Driss Fettouhi, sealed the win which left the home fans leaving in fury.

Al Ahli 1-2 Al Nassr

The streak of 2-1 results in this fixture began in October 2020 in the semi-finals of the King’s Cup. Al Nassr found themselves a goal down but turned the game around thanks to a great strike from Brazilian Petros and an 85th-minute winner from Gonzalo Martinez. Al Nassr would go on to lose the cup final to Al Hilal.

Final prediction

After bouncing back to the Saudi Pro League at the first attempt last season, and with the injection of PIF funding, Al Ahli are a different beast now compared to the last time the two sides played. Despite that, Al Nassr are also a much better side and have an in-form Cristiano Ronaldo up front. We’re going for a 2-1 victory to Al Nassr.

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