Al Nassr claimed a vital 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad in a high-stakes Saudi Pro League clash today at Alinma Bank Stadium in Jeddah. In a tense contest that remained scoreless deep into the second half, late goals from Sadio Mané and Ângelo finally separated the sides, a result that further fuels the title race.
The outcome followed the gritty narrative already building around the fixture, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo missing the match, as previously reported by SoftFootball.
The breakthrough reflected the pressure Al Nassr had steadily applied, a theme highlighted in SoftFootball’s coverage of Mané’s growing influence in decisive moments. With leaders Al Hilal still in sight, this win allowed Al Nassr to strengthen their position near the summit while dealing a psychological blow to one of their fiercest rivals.
After a cagey first half where chances were limited, Al Nassr’s patience paid off in the 85th minute. A VAR review spotted a handball inside the box that had initially gone unnoticed. Mané stepped up and showed trademark composure, calmly converting the penalty to give his side a deserved lead in a match defined by fine margins.
Al Ittihad responded by committing numbers forward, but that gamble proved costly. In the 90+7th minute, Al Nassr broke at pace, and Ângelo finished off a swift counterattack to seal the result. The late goal underlined Al Nassr’s clinical edge and punished Al Ittihad for overextending in search of an equaliser.
Tactically, the encounter was finely balanced. Al Nassr enjoyed 51 per cent possession and registered 15 shots, four of which tested the goalkeeper. Al Ittihad managed just five attempts and struggled to turn their defensive discipline into an attacking threat.
Jorge Jesus’ 4-4-1-1 system ensured midfield control, while João Félix operated intelligently behind Mané. Sergio Conceicao’s 4-2-3-1 relied heavily on Moussa Diaby and Houssem Aouar, but both were largely contained.
Discipline also played a role, with six yellow cards shown overall, four of them to Al Ittihad. Strategic substitutions from Al Nassr helped see out the game and manage fatigue in the closing stages.
The result, shared by the club’s official X account, tightens the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League title race, as Al Nassr edge closer to Al Hilal while leaving Al Ittihad under growing pressure in the battle for the top four.
