Al-Nassr return to Al-Awwal Park on Sunday evening with the confidence of a side that has forgotten what it feels like to drop points.
Softfootball understands that Jorge Jesus’s men have been flawless in the Saudi Pro League so far, winning all eight of their matches and sitting comfortably at the top of the table with a remarkable +22 goal difference. Twenty-six goals scored, only four conceded; the numbers speak for themselves.
Their dominance has been even more pronounced at home, where they have swept aside every team that has visited Riyadh this season. Aside from a 2-1 blip in the King’s Cup against Al Ittihad, Al-Nassr have looked almost untouchable.
They reacted to that defeat in the most convincing way possible, winning four of their next five matches, including a composed 3-1 victory away at Neom SC.
They also saw out FC Goa 4-nil in the game before that, and with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman and Marcelo Brozovic all in strong rhythm, the league leaders come into this game with the kind of attacking depth that gives opponents sleepless nights.
Al Khaleej arrive in Riyadh with beliefs of their own. Georgios Donis has guided his team to sixth place, collecting 14 points from their opening eight league games.
They’ve shown they can score, 21 goals already, but the flipside has been their vulnerability at the back. Conceding 11 goals and failing to keep a clean sheet in their last six outings highlight exactly where their challenge lies.
Al Nassr posted a video of the team arriving at the facility just before training started via the team’s official X handle.
Watch the video below:
Even so, their recent form has been impressive. A commanding 4-1 win away at Al Hazm last week showed their sharpness in the final third, even with a red card complicating the night.
Their away results this season have been mixed, but they haven’t lacked courage or ambition whenever they’ve travelled. What they have lacked, however, is success against Al-Nassr, a team that has beaten them in each of their last five meetings.
Team News
Al-Nassr might have to cope without Inigo Martinez and Saad Haqawi, both battling muscle issues, while Saad Al Nasser remains sidelined. Joao Felix, the league’s current top scorer with 10 goals, is expected to continue his partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo up front.
Brozovic and Angelo Gabriel should keep their places in midfield, with Mane and Coman offering their trademark pace and width.
For Al Khaleej, the big setback is the absence of Paolo Fernandes, suspended after his red card last time out. That likely opens the door for Mansour Hamzi to step in, while Bart Schenkeveld and Mohammed Al-Khabrani should continue as their defensive pairing.
Majed Kanabah and Dimitrios Kourbelis are expected to carry the responsibility in midfield, leaving Joshua King and Kostas Fortounis to try and unsettle Al-Nassr’s back line.
Possible Lineups
Al-Nassr possible lineup:
Alaqidi; Al-Boushal, Al-Amri, Simakan, Al-Ghanam; Mane, Brozovic, Angelo, Coman; Ronaldo, Felix
Al Khaleej possible lineup:
Moris; Al-Hamsal, Schenkeveld, Al-Khabrani, Rebocho; Hamzi, Kanabah, Kourbelis, Masouras; King, Fortounis
Softfootball’s Prediction
On paper, this looks like another night where Al-Nassr’s relentless quality should prevail. Their attacking options are simply overwhelming, and their rhythm at home makes them extraordinarily difficult to stop. Al Khaleej have enough firepower to make moments of the match uncomfortable, but their defensive frailties feel tailor-made for a team with Al-Nassr’s identity.
Softfootball’s view is straightforward: Al-Nassr should have too much for the visitors. A high-energy clash is expected, but the league leaders are favourites to maintain their perfect start.
Softfootball Predicts: Al-Nassr 3–1 Al Khaleej
