The Saudi Pro League witnessed another scintillating performance from leaders Al Nassr on Saturday night as they overcame a brief scare from Al Fateh to secure a dominant 5-1 victory at Al-Awwal Park. The match was a demonstration of Al Nassr’s formidable attacking depth, spearheaded by a spectacular goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and a brilliant hat-trick from Portuguese international João Félix. The comprehensive win extends Al Nassr’s flawless start to the 2025-26 season, solidifying their position atop the league table.
First Half: Félix Strikes Early, Visitors Show Resilience
Al Nassr, playing with the confidence of an unbeaten side, immediately imposed their authority on the match. The attacking trio of Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Kingsley Coman kept the Al Fateh defense constantly stretched, with Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozović dictating the tempo from the engine room.
The inevitable opener arrived in the 13th minute. The goal was a piece of individual brilliance from João Félix. Receiving the ball outside the box, Félix created space for himself with a quick touch and unleashed a powerful, dipping shot that found the top corner of the net, leaving the Al Fateh goalkeeper, Amin Al-Bukhari, with no chance. The early lead suggested a comfortable night for the hosts.
However, Al Fateh, despite their low position in the table, refused to crumble. They managed to weather the storm for the remainder of the half, creating a few dangerous moments on the counter-attack, forcing Al Nassr’s defence, featuring Iñigo Martínez, to remain vigilant. The half-time whistle blew with the score narrowly balanced at 1-0, promising a tense second period.
Second Half: Al Fateh Equalises, Then Ronaldo Unleashes the Fury
The dynamic of the game changed dramatically just nine minutes into the second half. Al Fateh found a shock equalizer in the 54th minute through Sofiane Bendebka. The midfielder pounced on a loose ball inside the box after a scramble and rifled a powerful shot past Nawaf Al-Aqidi, leveling the scores and momentarily silencing the home crowd.
The equalizer served as a massive wake-up call for the league leaders. The next few minutes were pure chaos and controversy. In the 57th minute, Al Nassr was awarded a penalty after Sadio Mané was fouled inside the area. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up, aiming to quickly restore the lead, but his spot-kick was saved by Al-Bukhari. The miss momentarily ramped up the pressure on the home side.
Yet, as only a player of Ronaldo’s caliber can do, he made instant amends. Literally moments later, in the 60th minute, Mané picked up the ball and fed Ronaldo on the edge of the area. The Portuguese superstar took one touch, shifted the ball onto his favored right foot, and unleashed a spectacular, bending shot—a true rocket—that flew into the top corner. It was a goal of sheer power and precision that restored Al Nassr’s lead at 2-1 and sent the stadium into an explosion of noise.
The Floodgates Open: Félix Completes His Hat-Trick
Ronaldo’s screamer broke Al Fateh’s resistance entirely, and the floodgates soon opened. Al Nassr’s relentless attacking wave proved too much for the struggling visitors.
João Félix grabbed his second goal of the night in the 68th minute. Working in tandem with his compatriot, Ronaldo turned provider, slicing open the defense with a clever pass to Félix, who finished clinically to make it 3-1.
The relentless pressure continued. In the 75th minute, Kingsley Coman got in on the act, tapping in a straightforward finish following a well-worked move down the wing to extend the lead to 4-1.
Félix then capped off a stellar individual performance by completing his hat-trick in the 79th minute. After Mané’s initial shot was saved or cleared, Félix showed great anticipation to fire home the rebound, securing the 5-1 scoreline and his second Saudi Pro League treble of the season.
The match highlights Al Nassr’s title credentials. While Al Fateh showed flashes of resilience, the sheer quality and star power of Al Nassr’s squad, particularly the decisive contributions from both Ronaldo and Félix, proved overwhelming. This victory extends Al Nassr’s perfect run of form, signaling a clear intent for the championship title.
