Just weeks earlier, Al-Nassr appeared unstoppable at the summit of the Saudi Pro League. A flawless run of ten straight wins had created clear separation at the top and set the stage for a highly anticipated Capital Derby against Al-Hilal scheduled for January 12.
Just weeks earlier, Al-Nassr appeared unstoppable at the summit of the Saudi Pro League. A flawless run of ten straight wins had created clear separation at the top and set the stage for a highly anticipated Capital Derby against Al-Hilal scheduled for January 12.
That sense of certainty has since evaporated. A sequence of dropped points has seen Al-Nassr slip behind their Riyadh rivals, leaving them chasing rather than leading. Even success in the upcoming derby would no longer be enough on its own to restore their place at the summit.
The shift in power became clearer as Matchday 14 approached. Al-Hilal entered their home fixture knowing a positive result would give them breathing space before facing Al-Nassr, underlining just how quickly the narrative of the season had turned.
Al-Hilal welcomed Al-Hazem to Kingdom Arena with confidence built on a lengthy winning run. After an inconsistent opening phase that included setbacks against Al-Ahli and Al-Qadsiah, Simone Inzaghi’s team had gathered momentum with nine consecutive victories.
Rather than pushing the tempo aggressively, the hosts focused on structure and patience. Salem Al-Dawsari returned to the lineup, while rotation elsewhere reflected the demands of a packed calendar.
The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute. Rúben Neves delivered an inch-perfect long pass from deep, allowing Sergej Milinković-Savić to rise and direct a header beyond the goalkeeper.
Neves then produced a moment of individual brilliance after the interval. His powerful effort from a distance struck the underside of the bar before crossing the line, doubling the advantage and igniting the crowd.
Any lingering doubt was removed late on. Kaio Cesar’s low delivery found Darwin Núñez unmarked, and the forward finished from close range in the 90th minute to confirm a tenth straight league success for the leaders.
Across the city, Al-Nassr faced Al-Qadsiah in what was billed as the weekend’s marquee encounter. The visitors, led by Brendan Rodgers in the early stages of his tenure, presented a significant challenge.
The opening half unfolded cautiously. Al-Nassr abandoned their trademark aggressive pressing, instead prioritising defensive balance to limit the threat posed by Julián Quiñones. Chances were scarce, and the contest remained finely poised at the break.
The deadlock was broken shortly after the restart in unfortunate fashion. Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, positioned high up the pitch, misjudged a clearance that fell directly to Quiñones, who rolled the ball into an unguarded goal.
Quiñones soon influenced proceedings again. His pressure forced Aiman Yahya into an error, allowing Mateo Retegui a first attempt that was saved before Nahitan Nández reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.
A glimmer of hope emerged for the hosts in the 79th minute when a handball decision led to a spot-kick. Cristiano Ronaldo converted with composure, registering his 14th league strike of the campaign.
Despite sustained pressure in the closing stages, Al-Nassr was unable to draw level. Ahmed Al-Kassar produced a series of resilient stops, preserving Al-Qadsiah’s 2-1 triumph and deepening the gap at the top of the table.
