Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are on a tear. The defending Saudi Pro League champions have kicked off their 2026/27 campaign with a flawless three-for-three record. Now, manager Ange Postecoglou’s squad is looking to make it four in a row as they host Al-Taawoun at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of this crucial Round 4 match.
The Chaos and the Comeback
Al-Nassr enters this fixture riding high on momentum after pulling off one of the most dramatic victories of the early season. In their last outing, they fell behind 2-0 to Al-Ettifaq and lost starting goalkeeper Bento to a first-half red card.
Despite playing with just 10 men, Al-Nassr clawed their way back to a stunning 3-2 victory. The win catapulted them to the top of the Saudi Pro League standings with a clean nine points. Their offense has been relentless, racking up 10 goals in just three matches—including dominant wins over Al-Riyadh (4-0) and Al-Fateh (3-0).
Key Lineup Changes for Al-Nassr
While momentum is on their side, Postecoglou faces selection headaches due to suspensions and injuries:
- Goalkeeper Crisis: With Bento suspended, backup Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi is expected to step in.
- Injury Blow: Reliable fullback Sultan Al-Ghannam is sidelined with a severe knee injury.
Even with these absences, the team's attack remains formidable, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, Sadio Mané, and Kingsley Coman.
Al-Nassr Predicted XI: Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi; Nawaf Boushal, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Iñigo Martínez, Salem Al-Najdi; Samu Costa, Ângelo, Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mané; João Félix, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Can Al-Taawoun Play Spoiler?
Al-Taawoun, managed by Zarko Lazetic, is searching for consistency. After a 3-2 defeat to Al-Kholood, they settled for a scoreless draw against Al-Fayha in Round 3.
Their primary weapon is Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah. The former Al-Nassr striker has already scored twice this season and will be highly motivated to disrupt his former team’s perfect run.
Al-Taawoun Predicted XI: Mailson; Al-Hurayji, Al-Saluli, Al-Mufarrij, Marin Petkov; Ashraf El Mahdioui; Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi, Nedim Bajrami, Oscar Dorley, Bassem Al-Arini; Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Match Details & How to Watch
- Date & Time: Friday, August 28, 2026, at 15:00 (Brasília time)
- Venue: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh
- Where to Watch (Brazil): Sportv 2 and Canal GOAT (YouTube)
