Al-Nassr secured a historic 9-0 win over Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League, keeping their hopes alive for a place in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite. The emphatic victory was the biggest in the club’s league history and came despite the absence of their star forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sadio Mane delivered a standout performance, scoring four goals—including his first hat-trick in the competition. Jhon Duran added two goals, while Ayman Yahya, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mohammed Maran also found the net in a dominant display.
The win took Al-Nassr to 63 points after 31 matches, keeping them in third place. Al-Ittihad lead the table with 74 points, followed by Al-Hilal on 68. With only a few games remaining, the race for a top-two finish remains wide open.
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Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 33 goals and provided four assists this season, was left out of the squad. Media reports suggested that head coach Stefano Pioli rested the Portuguese forward due to fatigue after he played full matches against both Al-Ittihad and Japan’s Kawasaki. Pioli later confirmed that Ronaldo had experienced muscle fatigue and the coaching staff opted not to risk him ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Fans were initially disappointed by Ronaldo’s absence, but the team’s performance—especially Mane’s sharp finishing—quickly lifted spirits at the stadium.
Al-Nassr now turn their focus to their next league match against Al-Taawoun on 16 May. Al-Taawoun sit eighth in the standings with 41 points from 31 games. As the season nears its conclusion, Al-Nassr will be aiming to carry their momentum forward in the battle for a Champions League spot.