Ronaldo’s Efforts Not Enough as Al Nassr Drops Points; Mitrović’s Return Boosts Al Hilal’s Title Push
The Saudi Pro League delivered another night of high drama as Al Shabab stunned 10-man Al Nassr with a late equalizer, while Al Hilal took advantage of the slip-up to tighten the title race with a crucial victory over Al Fayha.
Al Nassr looked set to claim three points after Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half stoppage-time goal, but a determined Al Shabab side refused to back down, snatching a dramatic equalizer in the 67th minute to seal a 2-2 draw.
The game started with fireworks as Abderrazak Hamdallah converted a penalty in the 44th minute, celebrating in front of the fans of his former club. However, the lead was short-lived, as Ayman Yahya struck just three minutes later to bring Al Nassr level.
Then came the game’s turning point—early in the second half, Mohammed Al-Fatil received a red card, leaving Al Nassr with 10 men. Al Shabab seized the opportunity, and in the 67th minute, Mohammed Al-Shuwairekh rose highest to head home the equalizer, sending the visiting fans into celebration.
Despite Al Nassr bringing on Colombian striker Jhon Durán in place of Ronaldo in the 70th minute, they could not find a winner. The draw leaves Al Nassr in fourth place with 48 points, while Al Shabab holds firm at sixth with 40 points.
In another crucial fixture, Al Hilal made a strong statement in the title race, securing a 2-0 victory over Al Fayha. The game marked the much-anticipated return of Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrović, who had been sidelined since January.
Coming off the bench in the 63rd minute, Mitrović wasted no time in making an impact, sealing the win with a clinical finish in the 89th minute after a brilliant assist from Salem Al-Dawsari.
Earlier, Mohammed Kanno had put Al Hilal ahead in the 18th minute with a commanding header from a corner. The visitors continued to dominate, with Kalidou Koulibaly coming close with a header and Al-Dawsari narrowly missing a long-range effort.
With this victory, Al Hilal moves to 54 points, now just four points behind league leaders Al Ittihad, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Al Qadsiah. Meanwhile, Al Fayha remains in 14th place with 22 points, still battling to avoid relegation.
Elsewhere, Al Ahli had to dig deep to salvage a 2-2 draw against Al Khaleej in Jeddah. The hosts found themselves trailing after an unfortunate own goal from Saeed Al-Hamsal in the 30th minute.
Abdullah Al-Salem managed to level the score in first-half stoppage time, but Al Khaleej regained the lead early in the second half through Fábio Martins. Just when it seemed Al Ahli was heading for a disappointing defeat, Galeno struck with a precise low drive in the 89th minute to secure a crucial point.
Al Ahli remains fifth in the table with 48 points, while Al Khaleej sits comfortably in 10th with 30 points.
With just a handful of games left in the season, every point is proving critical. Al Hilal’s resurgence, combined with Al Nassr’s struggles, has set the stage for a tense final stretch. Will Al Hilal overtake Al Ittihad, or can the defending champions hold on? One thing is certain—the Saudi Pro League remains unpredictable until the very end.
