Al-Nassr will hope to keep pace with Al-Hilal when they take on Al-Kholood on Friday night.
Al-Nassr will aim to continue their imperious form when they face Al-Kholood at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in round eight of the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League season. The visitors are chasing an eighth consecutive victory across all competitions, while the hosts are desperate to bounce back after a rough start to their maiden top-flight campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr have kicked off the new campaign in spectacular fashion, chasing success on both domestic and continental fronts. Since Stefano Pioli took the reins in September following the dismissal of Luis Castro, Al-Nassr have enjoyed a seven-match winning streak. Their most recent victory came in a tight 1-0 win against Esteghlal FC in their AFC Champions League encounter, with Aymeric Laporte finding the net late on after Ronaldo’s initial effort was parried.
In the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr pulled off a dramatic 2-1 win against Al-Shabab in their last league outing. The Knights of Najd are one of only two sides yet to taste defeat in the league this season. They currently sit in third place, one point behind Al-Ittihad and three adrift of leaders and reigning champions Al-Hilal.
On the other hand, Al-Kholood, who earned promotion via a third-place finish in the Saudi 1st Division last season, have experienced a tough welcome to life in the Pro League. Paulo Duarte’s men opened the season with back-to-back defeats to Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh before picking up their first points in a thrilling 3-3 draw against fellow newcomers Al Orubah.
Their sole win came against Al-Wehda in a hard-fought encounter, but they have since suffered three consecutive defeats. Al-Kholood did manage to arrest their slide last time out with a 1-1 draw against Al-Fateh, thanks to an early goal from Alex Collado, but they were unable to hold on to their lead.
Defensive frailties have been Al-Kholood’s Achilles heel this season, as they have already conceded 13 goals, trailing only Al-Wehda (18) and Al-Feiha (15) for the league’s leakiest defence. They will need to tighten up at the back if they are to avoid dropping into the relegation zone. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Al-Kholood
Alex Collado has been the standout performer for Al-Kholood this season, netting four of their eight league goals. His creative and goal-scoring prowess will be crucial once again as the team faces a formidable opponent in Al-Nassr. Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong continues his run as an ever-present figure in the squad, having featured in all league matches so far, even after returning from international duty.
There are no injury or suspension issues reported, giving head coach Paulo Duarte a full squad to choose from, allowing him to field a strong lineup against Al-Nassr.
Paulo Duarte is expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on providing defensive solidity while offering options in attack through the wings and central play. Marcelo Grohe is set to start between the posts, shielded by a back four consisting of Hamdan Al-Shamrani at right-back, Norbert Gyomber and William Troost-Ekong as the central defensive pairing, and Hassan Al-Asmari at left-back.
In the midfield, Aliou Dieng will occupy a deep-lying role, while Kevin N’Doram and Alex Collado offer creativity and ball progression, with Collado also tasked with driving forward and contributing in the final third.
The attacking trio is likely to consist of Myziane Maolida on the right wing, Jackson Muleka as the central striker, and Hammam Al-Hammami on the left wing, providing a balanced approach to breaking down Al-Nassr’s defence.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Grohe; Al-Shamrani, Gyomber, Troost-Ekong, Al-Asmari; Dieng, N’Doram, Collado; Maolida, Muleka, Al-Hammami
Al-Nassr
Al-Nassr will be without key defender Mohamed Simakan, who is suspended following his red card for two bookable offences in the recent victory over Al-Shabab. His absence means Mohammed Al-Fatil is expected to step into the heart of the defence, partnering with Aymeric Laporte. The full-back positions are likely to be occupied by Salem Al-Najdi on the right and Nawaf Boushal on the left.
Cristiano Ronaldo is in fine form and will aim to extend his goalscoring streak to five consecutive league games, keeping pace with other prolific forwards in the race for the Golden Boot, including Aleksandar Mitrovic and Karim Benzema. There are no other significant injury concerns for Al-Nassr, giving Stefano Pioli ample options to field a strong squad.
Al-Nassr are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, providing a solid defensive base while utilizing the pace and creativity of their attacking players. Brazilian goalkeeper Bento is expected to start between the sticks, with the back four consisting of Salem Al-Najdi at right-back, Aymeric Laporte and Mohammed Al-Fatil as the central defensive duo, and Nawaf Boushal at left-back.
In central midfield, Marcelo Brozovic and Abdullah Al-Khaibari will form a double pivot, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball forward. Sadio Mane is likely to occupy the left wing, with Anderson Talisca playing in the attacking midfield role and Otavio on the right flank, providing support to Cristiano Ronaldo, who will spearhead the attack as the lone striker.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bento; Al-Najdi, Laporte, Al-Fatil, Boushal; Brozovic, Al Khaibari; Mane, Talisca, Otavio; Ronaldo
Key Stats
- Al-Nassr are currently on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions since Stefano Pioli took over, highlighting the new coach’s immediate impact on the team.
- Al-Kholood have conceded 13 goals in their opening seven matches of the Saudi Pro League season, making them one of the most porous defences in the competition. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches.
- The newly promoted side has managed only one win from their seven league games so far (W1 D3 L3). Their last victory came against Al-Wehda, but they have struggled to maintain consistency in the top flight.
- Al-Nassr remain unbeaten on the road in their last five away league fixtures, showing resilience and the ability to perform under pressure in hostile environments. They will look to extend this impressive away record against Al-Kholood.
Player to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be Al-Nassr’s talisman, demonstrating his enduring qualities and influence on the team. The Portuguese superstar has scored in each of his last four Saudi Pro League matches, proving pivotal to Al-Nassr’s strong start under new coach Stefano Pioli. With his unmatched ability to find the back of the net and lead his team from the front, Ronaldo’s presence will be critical as they aim to secure another three points.
Facing a defence that has struggled this season, Ronaldo will be looking to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games and keep the pressure on in the race for the Golden Boot. His knack for being decisive in crucial moments makes him the key player to watch in this clash against Al-Kholood.
Prediction
Al-Kholood 0-3 Al-Nassr
With Al-Nassr firing on all cylinders and Al-Kholood struggling to find their feet in the Pro League, the visitors enter this fixture as heavy favourites. Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence and the form of players like Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte provide a significant boost, while Al-Kholood’s defensive frailties could be exposed by Al-Nassr’s attacking threat.
Al-Nassr’s quality, depth, and recent momentum should help them secure a comfortable victory, extending their unbeaten run and keeping them in close contention for the top spot in the Saudi Pro League standings.
