Al Nassr closed the gap at the top of the Saudi Pro League back to 10 points after easing to a 3-1 victory over Al Ettifaq.
Al Hilal thrashed Abha 7-0 on Thursday, meaning Al Nassr's own title hopes will be out of their hands for as long as the leaders continue to set the pace.
They responded well enough on Friday, though, with Alex Telles, Marcelo Brozovic and Cristiano Ronaldo all on the scoresheet in a comfortable victory in Riyadh. Steven Gerrard's visitors did at least get a consolation goal through Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi, but with just one win in 12 games in all competitions, pressure on the former Liverpool captain is starting to build in earnest.
Al Nassr vs Al Ettifaq final score
| 2nd Half | Goalscorers | |
| Al Nassr | 3 | Telles (43'), Brozovic (59'), Ronaldo P (73') |
| Al Ettifaq | 1 | Al Kuwaykibi (85') |
Lineups:
Al Nassr (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Laporte, Lajami, Telles — Brozovic, Fofana — Talisca, Otavio, Mane — Ronaldo.
Al Ettifaq (3-4-2-1, right to left): Victor (GK) — Hendry, Tisserand, Al-Khateeb — Yousef, Henderson, Hazazi, A. Al-Ghamdi (H. Al-Ghamdi, 4') — Quaison, Wijnaldum —Dembele.
Al Ettifaq defended well for much of the first half to restrict Al Nassr to very few chances. Indeed, the away side missed the best of the early opportunities, Moussa Dembele shooting straight at goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi when clean through on the break.
A moment of magic from Alex Telles broke the deadlock shortly before halftime. The former Manchester United man smashed home a superb volley from the edge of the penalty area following a half-cleared cross.
Any hope of a comeback seemed to be snuffed out before the hour mark. Al Nassr pressed high to disrupt Al Ettifaq's attempt to play out from the back, Brozovic intercepted the ball 18 yards out, and the midfielder's improvised half-volley from Ronaldo's headed assist saw him score in the Saudi Pro League for the first time.
Ronaldo twice missed good chances, the second following a fine run from Sadio Mane, but he would eventually get on the scoresheet via a penalty after Mane's latest dance into the area drew a handball.
Al Kuwaykibi netted from close range but it never felt like the visitors believed they could rescue a result. They remain eighth in the table, 16 points behind Al Nassr in second.
⌛️ || Full time, @AlNassrFC 3:1 #Ettifaq
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 22, 2023
Telles ⚽️
Brozo ⚽️
🐐 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/lVXNJsVyBP
Al Nassr vs Al Ettifaq highlights
Al Nassr vs Al Ettifaq updates from Saudi Pro League
Fulltime: Al Nassr 3-1 Al Ettifaq
That's that! Al Nassr ease to a 3-1 win, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the scoresheet again. The gap at the top of the table is back down to 10 points.
90 + 5 mins: HENDRY! What a chance for a second goal for the visitors! The ball bobbled its way through to the defender, who had ventured forward to the other penalty box, but his attempt flies over the bar.
90 mins: We'll have five extra minutes here. Al Ettifaq are showing few signs of a surprise late comeback.
85 mins: GOAL! Just like that, the visitors have scored. Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi gets away from Telles to convert a low finish at the far post after Georginio Wijnaldum's teasing cross from the left.
83 mins: This is game is rather winding down now. Al Ettifaq have looked beaten for some time and a few scrappy fouls are creeping into their approach. Gerrard is cutting a forlorn figure on the sidelines.
78 mins: So nearly 4-0! Talisca tries to curl a free-kick past the wall and into the net from 20 yards out. Victor stands still as he watches the ball fly inches wide.
73 mins: GOAL! Ronaldo makes no mistake. After a frustrating evening until now, he picks his spot low to Victor's right, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance. Game over.
72 mins: PENALTY! Mane is really enjoying himself and controls a raking cross-field pass from Talisca with a backheel. His latest drive into the box from the left sees Mohammed Abdulrahamn Yousef make a clear handball in the box while he was lying prone on the pitch. Mane has given up spot-kick duties to Ronaldo...
69 mins: He's missed again! Ronaldo makes a great run into space as Mane drives towards the byline. The Senegal star cuts it back for a seemingly simple finish, but Ronaldo blazes over the bar before beating the turf in frustration.
67 mins: Ronaldo takes the ball on the turn but seems to slip just as he strikes the ball, sending it straight into Victor's midriff. He's desperate for a goal, but no joy so far.
65 mins: Almost 3-0! Mane tries to square the ball to Ronaldo, Marcel Tisserand cuts it out, and it just bobbles past the post rather than nestling in the net.
60 mins: GOAL! It's 2-0 to the home side and it's a horrible goal to concede! AL Ettifaq try to play out from a goal kick but Marcelo Brozovic closes down play on the edge of the box. The ball loops up towards Ronaldo, who heads it back into the path of Brozovic, and the midfielder half-volleys into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.
58 mins: A loose ball breaks to Ronaldo but he can't quite squeeze a shot past Victor from close range.
50 mins: Dembele has had Al Nassr a little worried this half, but there have been no real chances as yet.
▶️ || 2nd half kickoff,@AlNassrFC 1:0 #Ettifaq pic.twitter.com/1C5NBU5Agx
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 22, 2023
Second half
We're off and running for the second 45 minutes.
Halftime: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Ettifaq
Alex Telles' sublime goal is the difference between the teams. Gerrard needs to conjure some improvement from his players to get back into this.
45 + 7 mins: Henderson sends his defenders up, but his free-kick from deep is a bit of an aimless hoof. It's the last meaningful act of the half.
45 + 5 mins: Aymeric Laporte is booked for a scissor-tackle on Dembele. He's not happy. Those two have had a running battle in this first half and each is potentially one foul away from a red card.
45 + 1 mins: Ronaldo gets the crowd going with some stepovers and dummies. His eventual attempted cross is blocked, clips his own shin, and goes out for an Al Ettifaq throw-in.
45 mins: We'll have seven minutes of injury time due to that early stoppage.
43 mins: GOAL! Oh my word, what a goal from Alex Telles! A clearing header in a crowded box drops to the left-back on the edge of the area, and he unleashes a stunning volley that flies past Victor and into the net! It was starting to feel like a bit of magic would be necessary to break the deadlock, and boy, have we had it.
42 mins: Lovely skill from Mane to get between two defenders, but across comes his old Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, who stops him squaring the ball across the box. Talisca then gets his first decent effort on target, but Victor saves fairly comfortably.
39 mins: The resulting corner forces a bit of a scramble in the area, but Al Ettifaq clear. Ronaldo then turns provider, crossing for Talisca, who can't direct his header on target.
37 mins: Dembele concedes a free-kick, 35 yards from goal, near the middle of the pitch. Ronaldo stands, legs apart, strides up to the ball... and shoots into the top of the wall.
35 mins: Ronaldo! Big chance. Sultan Al-Ghannam's excellent cross from the right picks out Ronaldo near the penalty spot. He seems to mistime his jump slightly and so his header is a little too close to Victor, who makes a good save low to his left.
30 mins: Telles exchanges passes with Mane, and the forward's sharp turn away from pressure opens up some space outside the penalty area. He slides the ball to Seko Fofana, whose attempted return is cut out by Jack Hendry. The Scottish defender has been excellent so far.
23 mins: The game has rather settled down now. Al Ettifaq are defending well and keeping Al Nassr largely at arm's length. Ronaldo has barely been involved these past few minutes.
16 mins: Moussa Dembele! What a chance at the other end! Al Ettifaq break quickly and Dembele has a clear run at goal, but Nawaf Alaqidi closes down the angle and makes a good block. That was a poor finish, in truth.
15 mins: Chance for Sadio Mane! Ronaldo's run draws both Al Ettifaq centre-backs and Mane is played through, but Al-Ghamdi does well to track the former Liverpool star and force him to shoot wide.
9 mins: Alex Telles wins a free-kick near the left corner flag. Cristiano Ronaldo will take it. He strikes it hard towards the far post, and Paulo Victor parries the ball away.
4 mins: Al-Ghamdi has gone off on a stretcher via a golf cart. There was clearly big concern about his wellbeing, although he was not being treated with oxygen on the pitch, suggesting he was in no immediate difficulty. Hamed Al-Ghamdi is on as his replacement.
2 mins: Al-Ghamdi jumped for a header with Ali Lajami, prompting the head clash. It was entirely accidental but it's led to a lengthy stoppage.
Kickoff
We're off and running, and within the first minute, there's a clash of heads that's caused some concern here. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi is receiving some lengthy treatment.
15 mins from kickoff: League leaders Al Hilal won 7-0 against Abha on Thursda, so the pressure is on today's hosts to try to keep within touching distance of what is beginning to look like a one-sided title race.
30 mins from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of today's Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq. It's Ronaldo's last match before Christmas and he'll be hoping to sign off with a gift for the home side.
Al Nassr vs Al Ettifaq live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes | Fox Sports app/website |
| Australia | — | 10 Play |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | DAZN |
| India | — | Shahid |
Al Nassr vs Al Ettifaq lineups
Luis Castro keeps a largely unchanged side from the win over over Al Shabab, although Anderson Talisca gets the nod to start on the right flank.
Al Nassr starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Alaqidi (GK) — Al Ghanam, Laporte, Lajami, Telles — Brozovic, Fofana — Talisca, Otavio, Mane — Ronaldo.
Al Ettifaq lost 2-0 at Al Taawoun last time out and Gerrard is set to make changes for the visitors.
Ronaldo will also line up against former Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.
Al Ettifaq starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Victor (GK) — Hendry, Tisserand, Al-Khateeb — Yousef, Henderson, Hazazi, Al-Ghamdi — Quaison, Wijnaldum —Dembele.
