Al Nassr secures dominant 5-2 victory in Clasico showdown against Al Ittihad

Al Nassr asserted their dominance with a historic 5-2 triumph over hosts Al Ittihad, narrowing the point gap with league leader Al Hilal to a mere seven points. This victory dealt Al Ittihad their third consecutive loss in the Saudi Professional League, breaking a streak of misfortune for the capital’s yellow-shirted team.

Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his prowess by netting two goals in the match, contributing to his impressive tally of 53 goals across all competitions this year. Senegalese player Sadio Mane also ended his goal drought with two goals against Al Ittihad, while Anderson Talisca marked his first goal in the Saudi Professional League against the struggling opponent.

The win bolstered Al Nassr’s position in the league, bringing their total points to 43, maintaining a strong second-place standing behind Al Hilal, who currently holds 50 points. In contrast, Al Ittihad’s points remained frozen at 28, placing them in the sixth position in the league.

Despite facing significant absences before the match, Al Ittihad received a boost with the return of Moroccan player Abdulrazak Hamdallah to the starting lineup. However, this was not enough to counter Al Nassr’s formidable lineup in this crucial postponed match, which proved pivotal in their ongoing competition with traditional rival Al Hilal.

The match unfolded with early excitement as Abdulrazak Hamdallah, the Moroccan striker for Al Ittihad, scored against his former team at the 14th minute, providing the home team with an early lead. Al Nassr responded swiftly, with Cristiano Ronaldo converting a penalty kick at the 18th minute to level the score.

As the match progressed, Al Nassr gained a clear advantage, highlighted by Brazilian Talisca’s goal shortly before halftime. Hamdallah once again found the net early in the second half, equalizing the score and intensifying the competition. However, a pivotal moment at the 66th minute, marked by a penalty kick and a red card for Al Ittihad’s Fabinho, shifted the momentum in favor of Al Nassr.

Ronaldo capitalized on the penalty, securing a third goal for Al Nassr, and Sadio Mane added two more goals to seal the record victory at 5-2. This impressive performance not only strengthened Al Nassr’s position in the league but also heightened anticipation for their upcoming crucial match against Al Taawoun.