Al-Nassr Faces Al-Ittihad
Cristiano Ronaldo Starts as Al-Nassr Seeks Fifth Win Against Al-Ittihad
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Key Points
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Across 102 meetings, Al-Ittihad lead the historical series with 45 wins to Al-Nassr’s 31, while 26 matches have ended in draws; Al-Ittihad also hold an aggregate 187-156 goal advantage.
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João Félix entered the match as the Saudi Pro League’s leading creator of big chances, having produced five before the latest round of fixtures.
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Al-Nassr’s unbeaten run extended beyond the league: the club had gone six matches without a defeat, with its last loss coming in a 1-0 defeat by Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final on May 16.
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Al-Nassr’s opening league results were a 3-0 win over Al-Fateh, a 4-1 victory against Al-Diriyah, a 4-0 win over Al-Riyadh, a 3-2 victory against Al-Ettifaq and a 2-1 win over Al-Taawoun; Samu Costa scored the stoppage-time winner against Al-Taawoun.
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The match was scheduled for King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, with kickoff listed for 4 p.m. Eastern time and television coverage on FOX Deportes, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX One.
Al-Nassr visits Al-Ittihad on Matchday 5 of the Saudi Pro League seeking a fifth straight league win. 101 Great Goals confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will start for the visitors, who have scored 12 goals while conceding just three under manager Ange Postecoglou. A victory would pull Al-Nassr level with league leaders Al-Hilal, though Al-Hilal have played one extra match.
Al-Ittihad arrives unbeaten but struggling to score. The hosts have two wins and two draws with only five goals in their opening four matches, including a scoreless draw with Al-Fateh. World Soccer Talk noted that Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Nassr 2-1 in their previous meeting, when Ronaldo made his first full 90-minute appearance of the season.
Ronaldo Chasing History Against Old Rival
Ronaldo has owned Al-Ittihad in recent years. He has scored six goals in his last six appearances against the hosts, a dominant streak spanning their recent matchups. 101 Great Goals confirmed the star striker will lead Al-Nassr's attack on Wednesday. The Portuguese legend arrives after playing the full 90 minutes in his last outing against these opponents.
Al-Nassr's Perfect League Start Faces Tough Test
Al-Nassr has demolished every opponent so far this season. The club won 3-0 over Al-Fateh, 4-1 against Al-Diriyah, 4-0 over Al-Riyadh, 3-2 against Al-Ettifaq, and 2-1 over Al-Taawoun with Samu Costa scoring in stoppage time. Khel Now reports that Al-Nassr remains unbeaten across all competitions, extending their run to six matches since losing 1-0 to Gamba Osaka in May's AFC Champions League Two final.
Al-Ittihad Building Under New Leadership
The hosts face significant transition after manager Sergio Conceição's departure and the loss of several prominent players. Jens Wissing now leads the team through this rebuilding period. Despite the changes, Khel Now confirms Al-Ittihad remain unbeaten this season with two wins and two draws. However, their creative output lags far behind Al-Nassr's, with just five goals scored in four matches.
Historical Edge Favors Al-Ittihad Across 102 Meetings
These rivals have deep roots in Saudi football. Across 102 all-time meetings, Al-Ittihad lead with 45 wins to Al-Nassr's 31, while 26 matches ended in draws. 101 Great Goals reports that Al-Ittihad also hold a 187-156 aggregate goal advantage. Wednesday's clash at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah kicks off at 4 p.m. Eastern time with coverage on FOX Deportes, FOX Soccer Plus, and FOX One.
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