Al-Nassr missed out on qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite, as Al Fateh twice came from behind before stunning Cristiano Ronaldo and company with a 96th-minute winner in the Saudi Pro League.
2024/2025 Saudi Professional League
3-2
Match Report
Al-Nassr went into the final matchday of the campaign needing a win to have any chance of overtaking Al-Hilal to finish second and take the final qualification place.
Their hopes had been reinvigorated on Sunday, as they were awarded three points for a recent 2-1 loss to Al-Orouba, who were found to have fielded an ineligible player.
But they finished with a defeat despite twice taking the lead through Ronaldo and Sadio Mane. Ronaldo arrived unmarked at the far post to nod in a 42nd-minute opener, though Matias Vargas drew the hosts level with a close-range finish in first-half stoppage time.
Having missed a pair of glaring chances, Mane tucked Nawaf Bu Washl's right-wing centre home to put Al-Nassr 2-1 up in the 75th minute.
However, Mourad Batna's wonderful free-kick dragged Al Fateh level in the 81st minute, causing Al-Nassr to throw players forward in search of a winner.
They were caught out in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, with Matheus Machado drilling home at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked back to him.
BREATHE. pic.twitter.com/7zzzh43KUG
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Ultimately, even a victory would not have been enough to overtake Al-Hilal, who beat Al-Qadsiah 2-0 thanks to goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Mitrovic found the bottom-left corner with a 25th-minute penalty to put them ahead, then Milinkovic-Savic sealed the points with a neat finish across goal in the second half.
Al-Hilal finished as runners-up, five points clear of Al-Nassr, with fourth-placed Al-Qadsiah two points behind Stefano Pioli's team, who go into the AFC Champions League 2.
Champions Al-Ittihad, meanwhile, signed off with a 1-0 victory over Damac, with Steven Bergwijn clipping a finish over Florin Nita in the 72nd minute.
Reigning AFC Champions League Elite champions Al-Ahli, meanwhile, finished fifth after beating Al-Riyadh 1-0 via a 16th-minute penalty from Ivan Toney, the England international's 23rd league goal of the season.
At the bottom, Al-Okhdood staved off relegation via a penalty from Mohammed Naif Saleh Al Jahif in the 15th minute of second-half stoppage time, with Al-Wehda going down courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Al-Ettifaq, who scored a 96th-minute winner via Vitinho.
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— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 26, 2025
Data Debrief: New low for Al-Nassr, but consolation for Ronaldo
Ronaldo has been linked with a transfer away from the Saudi Pro League, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggesting he could move to a participant in the upcoming Club World Cup.
If this was his final game for Al-Nassr, he went out on a sour note, exiting the pitch to a chorus of boos after Al-Nassr recorded their worst Pro League finish since his 2022 arrival (second in 2022-23 and 2023-24).
Ronaldo did at least achieve the consolation prize of the Golden Boot, finishing on 25 goals to edge out Toney, having also won it with 35 goals last campaign.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
8' Batna passes to Vargas, who invades the area and shoots with his right foot!
15' Matías Vargas advances on the right, takes a shot, and Bento makes a great save!
22' Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball inside the box and shoots with right foot!
23' Hussain Qasim commits a hard foul on Sadio Mané and interrupts Al-Nassr's play!
43' GOAL! Ronaldo heads a cross into box and ball hits net! Al Fateh 0-1 Al Nassr FC
48' Mané catches it with his right foot in the middle of the box but his shot saved!
49' GOAL! Vargas equalizes against Ronaldo's effort! Al Fateh 1-1 Al Nassr FC
52' Aiman Yahya controls the ball outside the box and shoots with his left foot!
66' Highlight from Al Fateh vs Al Nassr FC
70' Highlight from Al Fateh vs Al Nassr FC
75' GOAL! Mané shoots with right foot from middle of box! Al Fateh 2-2 Al Nassr FC
81' GOAL! Batna takes free kick & puts it past goalkeeper! Al Fateh 2-2 Al Nassr FC
96' GOAL! Machado nets third in injury time & close to win! Al Fateh 3-2 Al Nassr FC
Line-ups
Al Fateh XI: Sofiane Bendebka, Mourad Batna, Marwane Saadane, Ammar Al-Dohaim, Jorge Fernandes, Vargas, Hussain Qasim, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Amine Sbaï, Naif Masoud, Saeed Baattia
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fuhaid, Ziyad Al-Jari, Othman Al-Othman, Abdullah Safuq Al-Enezi, Ahmed Al-Julaydan, Ali Al-Masoud, Matheus Machado, Muhannad Al-Yahya, Hussain Al-Zarie
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Mohammed Al-Fatil, Mane, Otávio, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Ali Al-Hassan, Mohamed Simakan, Bento, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Ayman Yahya
Subs: Ahmad Al-Harbi, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Ali Lajami, Raghed Al-Najjar, Mohammed Marran, Ângelo, Salem Al Najdi, Wesley, Majed Qasheesh