Al Nassr move closer to Saudi league title after victory over Al Shabab

Al Nassr quickly regained their momentum in the Saudi Pro League title race after securing an important and entertaining 4-2 victory away to Al Shabab in the advanced fixture from Matchweek 33.

The match witnessed a brilliant performance from Portuguese forward João Félix, who stole the spotlight with a hat-trick, underlining his immense value in attack. Veteran compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo also added another goal to his tally, as the duo guided the team to a crucial win that put them back on track following their surprise defeat to Al Qadsiah in the previous round.

With this victory, Al Nassr raised their tally to 82 points at the top of the standings, opening a five-point gap over their direct rivals Al Hilal ahead of the highly anticipated showdown between the two sides—a clash that could prove decisive in determining this season’s champions.

Meanwhile, Al Shabab remain on 32 points, continuing to occupy a disappointing position that falls short of supporters’ expectations, despite some positive spells during the match.

Key moments of the match

Al Nassr started the game at full intensity and needed only three minutes to open the scoring through João Félix, who capitalized on a loose ball inside the box and fired powerfully into the net to hand his side the perfect start.

The visitors continued their aggressive attacking approach, and Félix struck again just minutes later with a precise close-range header, taking advantage of poor defensive marking inside the penalty area.

That early double gave Al Nassr a clear psychological and technical advantage, allowing them to dominate possession and create several dangerous chances, particularly through Abdulrahman Ghareeb, who came close to adding a third.

Spanish defender Íñigo Martínez also nearly found the net with a dangerous header that drifted narrowly wide, while Al Shabab’s defense struggled to cope with Al Nassr’s quick movement and attacking combinations.

Despite Al Nassr’s dominance, Al Shabab managed to get back into the game through Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco, who reduced the deficit with a powerful strike from inside the area.

However, Al Nassr maintained control after the break and continued threatening the opposition goal with repeated attacks. Martínez again came close with another header from a set piece, but the ball narrowly missed the target once more.

At a crucial moment, Ronaldo stepped up to showcase his experience, scoring Al Nassr’s third goal with a powerful finish from inside the box to restore the two-goal advantage.

Although Al Shabab attempted another comeback through defender Ali Al Bulayhi, João Félix had the final say, converting a stoppage-time penalty to complete his hat-trick and seal a perfect evening for himself and his side.

The victory not only earned Al Nassr three valuable points but also restored confidence ahead of the decisive clash with Al Hilal, which could largely determine the destination of the title. The attacking display, especially from the Portuguese duo Ronaldo and Félix, has further boosted fans’ hopes of finally securing the championship after a long and turbulent season.

On the other hand, Al Shabab’s struggles continued, with the team once again looking vulnerable defensively against top opposition despite possessing players capable of making a difference. As the season nears its conclusion, the club will need to regroup and reassess ahead of the next campaign, while Al Nassr remain fully focused on completing their title dream.