Al Faisaly vs Al Nassr today: Ronaldo starts as Al Nassr chase the top
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Al Nassr sit third with 22 points and can close the gap on leaders Al Qadsiah with a win today.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start, and he leads the club with four league goals this season.
- Hosts Al Faisaly are 15th and unbeaten in their last two games after a winless start.
Al Faisaly host Al Nassr today in the Saudi Pro League. The match is at Al Majmaah Sport City on Friday, October 23. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start for the visitors.
Fans are searching for team news and lineups. That makes sense. This game has a title race.
It has a star striker. It has a home underdog in good form.
Why this game matters
Al Nassr are third in the table. They have 22 points from nine games. Their record is seven wins, one draw, and one loss, according to Heavy.
They are just three points behind league leaders Al Qadsiah. Sports Mole reports that Al Nassr have played one game fewer than the leaders. So a win today could pull them level at the top on points.
Al Faisaly sit 15th with seven points from nine games. They are just above the relegation zone.
The relegation zone is the bottom of the table. Teams there drop to a lower league at the end of the season.
Al Faisaly have one win, four draws, and four losses, according to Heavy. They have scored only 10 goals in nine games. That is not much for a team fighting to stay up.
But recent form tells a better story. Al Faisaly went winless in their first seven games. Then they picked up four points from their last two matches, reports Sports Mole.
That unbeaten run of two games gives them real hope today.
The two managers see it differently
Ange Postecoglou manages Al Nassr. The Australian is trying to build a title-winning team.
His side are unbeaten in their last four matches, according to Sports Mole. They have three wins and one draw in that run.
Al Nassr also share the best defence in the league with Al Hilal. They have let in only seven goals all season, reports Sports Mole.
They have kept clean sheets in their last two games. A clean sheet means they did not let the other team score.
Giovanni Solinas manages Al Faisaly. He was honest at his press conference before the match.
He said the odds lean towards Al Nassr. But he promised his players will fight for a good result, according to YSscores.
Solinas also spoke about team rotation. He said the busy match schedule makes rest important. He wants every player ready to play, reports YSscores.
Al Faisaly returned to the top flight this season. It is their first season back since 2021-22, according to Sports Mole. Their main goal is simple: stay in the league.
Ronaldo and the lineups
The biggest question for fans was simple. Will Cristiano Ronaldo play? The answer looks like yes.
Heavy reports that everything points to Ronaldo starting today. He is Al Nassr's top league scorer with four goals.
He does not carry the attack alone. Angelo Gabriel and Joao Felix have three league goals each, according to Heavy. Felix, Sadio Mane, and Angelo also share the assist lead with three each.
Here is the expected Al Nassr lineup, according to Sports Mole: Bento; Yahya, Martinez, Al-Amri, Boushal; Mane, Angelo, Al-Khaibari, Costa; Ronaldo, Felix.
That is an attacking lineup. Ronaldo and Felix play up front.
Mane and Angelo give width on the wings. Martinez and Al-Amri hold the centre of defence.
Al Faisaly have one clear danger man. Alexandre Mendy has five league goals, reports Heavy. He is their top scorer by some distance.
Jaime Seoane leads the team in assists with two.
The expected Al Faisaly lineup, according to Sports Mole: Pacheco; Barnawi, Bin Subayt, Seck, Al-Shanqiti; Flavio, Girotto, Seoane; Al Bishi, Mendy, Al-Mogren.
Both teams have injury problems. Al Faisaly are without centre-forward Ahmed Abdu.
He had knee surgery in August and has missed eight games, reports Heavy. Midfielder Abdulrahman Al-Safari is also likely to miss out.
Al Nassr miss left winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb and left-back Saleem Al-Najdi. They have foot and nose injuries. Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan are doubts, according to Heavy.
Ronaldo's recent form is worth noting. He played in the AFC Champions League group match against Neftchi Fergana on October 12. Al Nassr won 3-1 in that game, reports Heavy.
Our earlier story on Al Nassr's win over Neftchi Fergana has the details. Ronaldo is also closing in on a huge career milestone. We covered it in our piece on Ronaldo's 981st career goal.
Why the hosts are not hopeless
On paper, Al Nassr should win. Sports Mole predicts a 1-2 away win. They note Al Nassr have won three of the last five meetings.
But home history is on Al Faisaly's side. They beat Al Nassr 2-1 at this ground in 2021. They also won 3-2 here in 2020, according to Sports Mole.
Al Faisaly have no clean sheets in their last three games against Al Nassr. They keep letting in goals. But at home, with new confidence, they will not just lie down.
The biggest issue for Al Nassr is away form. Sports Mole reports they have won just two of four away games this season. They beat Neom 1-0 in their last match on October 20. Joao Felix scored the winner in the second half.
A tight away game against a fighting home team could be hard. That is why fans keep searching.
What happens next
Three points for Al Nassr would keep the pressure on Al Qadsiah at the top. The title race would stay wide open. A draw or loss would let the leaders pull away.
For Al Faisaly, any point matters. They are fighting for survival.
A draw against a top-three team would be a big result. A win would be huge.
After this match, Al Nassr need to keep their defence tight. Their back line has been their strength.
Al Faisaly need to keep their recent run going. Four points from two games is a start, not a cure.
One game, two very different goals. That is what makes league football worth watching. For more football coverage, see how Vinicius Junior's ban could reshape El Clasico.
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