After a disappointing start to the season with two defeats against Al-Ettifaq and Al Taawon, Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammates made a fine comeback against Al-Fateh with a clear and faultless win. Against Al-Shabab, the aim was to replicate the offense at home in order to join the leading teams of the Saudi Pro League. The local Portuguese striker immediately emerged. Al-Nassar benefited from a penalty for a handball by an opponent in his own area, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner quickly started the scoring (13th). A few minutes before half time, Cristiano Ronaldo was fouled in the Al-Shabab penalty area and the hosts were awarded another penalty. After his hat-trick in the previous match, the Portuguese striker once again tricked the goalkeeper to score twice (38th). In the process, the striker turned in a pass for Sadio Mane, who only had to crucify the opposing goalkeeper (40th). Returning from the locker room, the momentum dropped a bit and we had to wait for two big mistakes to move the meeting forward. Ever Banega was also sent off for an unsportsmanlike tackle on the knee of his direct opponent, while Hutton Bahebri only picked up a yellow card for a tackle from behind on Sadio Mane (78th). Shortly afterwards, Sultan Al-Ghanem headed the ball into the back of the net to definitively seal the victory for Al-Nassr as Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post with a fine header (80′). Thanks to this win, Al-Nassr went back and finished 6th in the Saudi Pro League. The next day, CR7 would face teammate Al-Hazm.
with footmercato
