Al Hilal 3-1 Al Nassr: Ronaldo's side suffer comeback as Neves scores late pen

Al-Hilal came out on top in a tussle between the Saudi Pro League title favourites on Monday, despite Cristiano Ronaldo's goal for Al-Nassr.

Match Report

Al-Nassr were reduced to 10 men as they went down 3-1 to Al-Hilal in a result that could have huge implications in the Saudi Pro League title race.

Al-Hilal are now seven points clear at the summit after coming from behind on Monday, having fallen behind to Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in the 42nd minute.

Ronaldo volleyed in at the end of a brilliant move in which Joao Felix played in Kingsley Coman with a deft, lofted pass.

However, Al-Nassr crumbled after the break. Mohamed Simakan conceded a penalty for a clumsy foul on Malcom.

Salem Al Dawsari converted the resulting spot-kick, but as Ruben Neves rushed into the goal to retrieve the ball, he got into an altercation with Al-Nassr shot-stopper Nawaf Al Aqidi, who was sent off for violent conduct after a VAR review.

Al-Hilal took control from there, with Mohamed Kanno steering home in the 81st minute before Neves lashed in from a second penalty in stoppage time.

Data Debrief: Cagey encounter sees Al-Hilal march on

There were just 17 shots combined between these two teams (eight for Al-Hilal, nine for Al-Nassr).

However, with Al-Hilal winning two penalties, their total of 2.09 expected goals dwarfed Al-Nassr's 0.7 xG.

Al-Nassr have now failed to win any of their last four league matches, losing their last three. It is their longest winless run in the competition since 2021, while they last lost three on the spin in 2020.

Al-Hilal, meanwhile, have won their last 11 Pro League matches. They only won more in a row during a record-setting streak of 24 straight wins between September 2023 and May 2024. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

11' Match Event for Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

17' Match Event for Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

20' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

21' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

22' Match Event for Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

25' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

38' Match Event for Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

42' GOAL! Al Hilal 0-1 Al Nassr FC (Cristiano Ronaldo)

50' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

57' Penalty Goal! Al Hilal 1-1 Al Nassr FC (Salem Al-Dawsari)

61' Red Card! Sent Off

71' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

74' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

81' GOAL! Al Hilal 2-1 Al Nassr FC (Mohamed Kanno)

84' Highlight from Al Hilal vs Al Nassr FC

90' Penalty Goal! Al Hilal 3-1 Al Nassr FC

Line-ups

Al Hilal XI: Salem Al Dawsari, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, Theo, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Hassan Tambakti, Mohammed Al-Yami, Nunez, Hamad Al-Yami, Moteb Al-Harbi

Subs: Mari, Mohammed Kanoo, Sultan Mandash, Ali Lajami, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Marcos Leonardo, Ahmad Aburasyin, Yusuf Akçiçek, Abdulkarim Darisi

Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Brozovic, I. Martinez, Coman, Felix, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Mohamed Simakan, Nawaf Boushal, Ayman Yahya, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Ângelo

Subs: Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Haroune Camara, Ali Al-Hassan, Nader Al-Sharari, Mohammed Marran, Saad Al-Nasser, Wesley, Mubarak Al-Buainain