Al Nassr vs Al Batin score, result, highlights as Cristiano Ronaldo's side seal incredible 3-1 comeback win

Feargal Brennan

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Al Nassr vs Al Batin score, result, highlights as Cristiano Ronaldo's side seal incredible 3-1 comeback win image

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League thanks to a sensational 3-1 comeback win at home against rock-bottom Al Batin.

All three Al Nassr goals came in second-half stoppage time, although none were authored by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite the match being a clash between the league leaders (Al Nassr) and the division's bottom team, it was Al Batin that impressed early on as Uruguayan forward Renzo Lopez superbly headed them in front.

However, with Ronaldo struggling to have an impact for Rudi Garcia's hosts, it was Abdulrahman Ghareeb that led the fightback with a well-taken equaliser at the start of an unusual 16 minutes of added time at the end of the second half.

That extended period allowed Al Nassr to equalise and then wrest control away from Al Batin, as substitute pair Mohammed Al Fatil and Mohammed Maran completed a wild fightback.

MORE: Al Nassr match schedule and results for the 2022/23 season

Al Nassr vs Al Batin final score

  1H 2H Final
Al Nassr 0 3 3
Al Batin 1 1 1

Goals:

Lopez — Al Batin — 18th min.
Ghareeb — Al Nassr — 90+3 min.
Al Fatil — Al Nassr — 90+10 min.
Maran — Al Nassr — 90+12 min.

Lineups:

Al Nassr lineup (4-2-3-1):  Alaqidi (GK) — Al-Ghanam, Madu, Lajami, Konan— Gustavo, Al-Khaibari — Masharipov, Al-Najei, Ghareeb — Ronaldo

Al Batin lineup (4-4-2):  Campana (GK) — Al-Shamlan, Naji, Antonio, Al-Yousef —  Bukia, Pedroza, Alhurayji, Al-Qarni — Lopez, Al Shammari

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo's salary in Saudi Arabia

Al Nassr vs Al Batin as it happened in Saudi Pro League thriller

Final: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Batin

A simply sensational end, after 16 minutes of added time, as Al Nassr complete an unbelievable turnaround in Riyadh.

Renzo Lopez's early goal had Al Batin in front at 90 minutes but THREE goals in added time sealed an outrageous win for Rudi Garcia's hosts  — as Ronaldo failed to fire.

90+12 mins: AL NASSR HAVE THREE!

WOW! INCREDIBLE STUFF FROM THE LEAGUE LEADERS!

Al Batin commit players forward in the dying seconds, as the electric Ghareeb leads the break, and Maran checks inside to FIRE home!!

90+10 mins: AL NASSR HAVE WON IT!

A long free kick into the box is brilliantly headed down by Madu and substitute Mohammed Al Fatil volleys home!

WHAT A TURNAROUND!

90+7 mins: Alaqidi comes charging out of goal and brings down Lopez with a booking for the Al Nassr goalkeeper.

90+4 mins: Lopez tries a lob from distance........just wide!!! That WAS close!

90+3 mins: AL NASSR ARE LEVEL!!!!

Gustavo's chip drops perfectly to Ghareeb at the far post and he steers home to equalise!!

90 mins: 12 minutes added on by the referee!

88 mins: Al Nassr shout for a penalty, as Mohammed Maran collides with Campana, but the substitute is booked for diving.

86 mins: Free Kick, Take 2 .....off target AGAIN!!

82 mins: Ronaldo with another free kick.......just past the post. Closer than his attempt from the first half, but still no goal for the Al Nassr skipper tonight.

80 mins: Al Nassr are knocking on the door as we approach the last 10 minutes here in Riyadh but Al Batin are comfortable as it stands.

72 mins: A concern here for Al Batin, as Antonio goes down injured, and the Brazilian immediately signals that he needs to come off and Nawaf Al Suhaimi comes on.

66 mins: GUSTAVOOOOOOO!!!

A deep free kick into the box finds the former Bayern Munich star who can only head directly at goalkeeper Martin Campana.

60 mins: Garcia is looking to push hard for an equaliser in the final stages as Masharipov and Abdullah Al-Khaibari are replaced by Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem and Mohammed Maran.

55 mins: Another chance for Ronaldo inside the box, as his strike is deflected wide for a corner, but there is a delayed offside flag.

50 mins: Ghareeb storms through the middle and bends an effort just wide before his cross into Ronaldo causes a collision in the penalty area.

The home fans shout for a penalty, but the referee says no, and Ronaldo is OK to carry on.

46 mins: WE ARE BACK!!!

No changes at the interval!! Can Al Nassr respond?

Al Nassr 0-1 Al Batin

A potential shock on the cards here in Riyadh as Al Batin head in at the break with a 1-0 edge over Ronaldo's league leaders!!!

The Portuguese superstar was denied an equaliser by some fine Al Batin defending, but it is Lopez 's header that separates the sides at half time.

45+5 mins: Another BIG chance for Al Nassr

Masharipov swings a ball into the far post for Ghareeb, but his header is poor, and Campana is able to make the save.

45 mins: Six minutes added on and Al Nassr have a free kick in Ronaldo territory!!

ANDDDDDDDDDD....Over......by a mile.

40 mins: Al Batin spring forward AGAIN — they are certainly not overawed in Riyadh — and Madu is forced into some heroic defending of his own — to clear Al Shammari's cross.

35 mins: RONALDOOOOOOO.....SOOOO CLOSE

Ronaldo gambles on a long ball in behind — dodges past the onrushing Campana — however, Abdullah Al Yousif get back to make an INCREDIBLE goal line clearance!!

Superb defending from Al Batin!!

At the other end, Mohammed Bassam Alhurayji lines one up from distance, but it's a routine stop for Nawaf Al Aqidi.

33 mins: A long Al Nassr throw into the box comes to nothing, as Abdullah Madu heads straight at Campana, and Ronaldo rages at the referee, as a corner decision goes against him.

Lopez shows his aerial threat again but the experienced forward heads over.

28 mins: Al Batin are posing a real threat on the counter attack, as Lopez heads down a long ball forward for winger Andre Bukia, but the flag is up for offside.

23 mins: Finally a chance for Ronaldo at the other end, as he hangs in the air, but his header flies over the bar!!

18 mins: AL BATIN TAKE THE LEAD!!!

Rock bottom Al Batin are in front at the league leaders!!!!

VAR has overruled the referee on his call and Lopez's goal stands!!!

17 mins: Al Batin have the ball in the net, as Renzo Lopez gets up highest to head home, but the goal is ruled out for a push on Sultan Al-Ghannam, by the Uruguayan.

A very close call from the referee!!

15 mins: A HUGE chance for Al Nassr

Abdulrahman Ghareeb's superb run in behind breaks through Al Batin — his neat cut back finds Sami Al-Najei — but his close range effort is smuggled behind by Mauricio Antonio.

12 mins: Ronaldo is roaming across the Al Nassr attack, looking to link up with Masharipov, but the Al Batin defence are working hard to keep them at bay in the opening stages.

5 mins: A bright start from the home side, as Ghislain Konan powers forward on the overlap, but his cross is gathered in by Al Batin goalkeeper Martin Campana, with Ronaldo lurking.

WE ARE OFF!!! Al Nassr vs. Al Batin!!!

15 mins from kickoff: How much will Al Nassr miss Talisca?

Despite the HUGE focus on Ronaldo, the absent Talisca has been central for Al Nassr so far this season, leading the Saudi Pro League charts in goals scored (13), goals scored per 90 minutes (0.99) and shots on target per 90 (1.67). 

45 mins from kickoff: TEAM NEWS IS IN

Ronaldo once again leads the Al Nassr attack, but there is no place for Brazilian star Talisca, as Uzbekistan international Jaloliddin Masharipov comes in to start.

1hr 30 mins from kickoff: Another Ronaldo masterclass incoming?

Al Nassr's main man netted a hat trick against Damac last time out. How many can he score on his return to Riyadh?

2 hrs from kickoff: Can Cristiano Ronaldo lead Al Nassr to another key win tonight?

Al Nassr vs Al Batin lineups, team news

Nawaf Alaqidi continues in goal in place of the injured David Ospina, with the Colombia international still sidelined. Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez is out for the rest of the season in a major blow for the hosts, with Jaloliddin Masharipov preferred to Talisca, in behind Ronaldo.

Al Nassr lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al-Ghanam, Madu, Lajami, Konan— Gustavo, Al-Khaibari — Masharipov, Al-Najei, Ghareeb — Ronaldo

Al Batin head coach Alen Horvat has confirmed no fresh injury worries, and he makes two changes after picking up their first victory of the campaign last time out.

Al Batin lineup (4-4-2): Campana (GK) — Al-Shamlan, Naji, Antonio, Al-Yousef —  Bukia, Pedroza, Alhurayji, Al-Qarni — Lopez, Al Shammari

Al Nassr vs Al Batin live stream, TV channel

SSC (Saudi Sports Company) has been live streaming Al Nassr matches in English via its Twitter channel.

Local broadcasters in selected countries have the rights to televise or stream the Saudi Pro League, and fans in other countries can subscribe to streaming platform Shahid for complete coverage of the Roshn Saudi Pro League.

According to LiveSoccerTV, selected European countries will have local broadcasters carrying the match, while DirecTV Sports will bring it to Spanish-speaking South American countries.

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo's salary in Saudi Arabia

  TV channel Streaming
Australia — 10 Play
Canada — Shahid
Hong Kong — Shahid
India Sony TEN 2 Shahid/ JioTV, SONY LIV
Malaysia — Shahid/myTV Super
New Zealand — Shahid
Singapore — Shahid
UK — Shahid
USA — Shahid

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.