Al-Nassr Prepares to Face Al-Faisaly in the Saudi Pro League
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start as Al-Nassr looks to maintain its strong position near the top of the league standings.
Al-Faisaly is set to host Al-Nassr at King Salman Sports City Stadium for Matchday 10 of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League. Heading into this Friday fixture, Al-Nassr occupies third place in the league table with 22 points collected from nine matches, boasting a record of seven wins, one draw, and one loss.
Meanwhile, the home side is currently struggling near the bottom of the standings. Al-Faisaly sits 15th, just above the relegation zone, having earned seven points from their nine matches with a record of one win, four draws, and four losses.
Al-Faisaly will be missing several key players for the encounter. Center-forward Ahmed Abdu remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from knee surgery undergone in August, having already missed eight games. Midfielder Abdulrahman Al-Safari is also sidelined due to an injury.
Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou will also manage a depleted squad. Left winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb and left-back Saleem Al-Najdi are absent with foot and nose injuries, respectively. Furthermore, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan are listed as doubts due to hamstring and foot problems.
Despite these roster concerns, Al-Nassr supporters can look forward to seeing their star player on the pitch. All indications point to Cristiano Ronaldo playing and featuring in the starting lineup. Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr's goalscoring efforts this season with four goals.
Al-Faisaly enters the match following a mixed run of form, having won only one of their last five outings. In their most recent fixture on October 19, they played to a 2-2 draw against Al Shabab. Alexandre Mendy leads Al-Faisaly as their top scorer with five goals, while Jaime Seoane leads the squad in assists with two.
In contrast, Al-Nassr arrives with strong momentum, securing three wins and one loss in their previous five matches. Their latest performance resulted in a 1-0 victory over Neom SC on October 20. Alongside Ronaldo, Angelo and João Félix have contributed significantly to the attack, scoring three goals each.
The broader Saudi Pro League race remains fiercely competitive. Teams like Al-Ittihad continue to chase the upper tier of the standings, keeping pressure on frontrunners like Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal as the season progresses.