Without Ronaldo, Al Nassr Still Triumphs Over Al Fateh in Season Opener

Al Nassr began the 2026/27 Saudi Pro League campaign with a 3-0 win against Al Fateh, despite Cristiano Ronaldo's absence, with Joao Felix and the newcomers each making their mark.

Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from the opening match of the 2026/27 Saudi Pro League after returning late to training and having just taken a personal break. However, the absence of the Portuguese superstar did not cause Al Nassr any trouble, as the hosts at Al-Awwal Park still displayed overwhelming strength against Al Fateh.

Right from the kickoff, Al Nassr quickly took control of the game with continuous attacks. Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, and Angelo posed constant threats to the visitors' goal, while Al Fateh mostly had to drop deep into defense.

After more than half an hour of play, Al Nassr finally found the opening goal. In the 37th minute, Salem Al Najdi delivered a convenient pass for Angelo to handle on the right flank before unleashing a technical left-footed strike. The ball went straight into the top corner, leaving the Al Fateh goalkeeper with no chance to save.

Just three minutes later, the lead was doubled. Sadio Mane provided a clever assist, sending the ball to Joao Felix's position. The Portuguese striker broke through and then finished decisively from a tight angle, making it 2-0 for Al Nassr.

Al Fateh had a chance to reduce the deficit before the break, but Faisal Al Abdulwahed hit the post. This incident also showed that the visitors were not completely outclassed, but they failed to capitalize on their rare opportunities to change the game's outcome.

After the interval, Al Nassr continued to maintain pressure and gave their opponents little time to organize attacks. In the 73rd minute, the hosts completed the victory with a third goal. Abdullah Al Hamdan passed the ball conveniently for Samu Costa to finish neatly from the center, sealing the 3-0 scoreline.

The final minutes saw Al Nassr continue creating chances. Ayman Yahya even hit the post in the 86th minute, while Al Fateh could not find a consolation goal.

The 3-0 victory gave Al Nassr a perfect start to the season and partly demonstrated that this team is still capable of making a difference even without Ronaldo. Joao Felix quickly left his mark, while Angelo and Samu Costa also contributed to the convincing win.

With the first three points, Al Nassr can confidently look ahead to the long race in the Saudi Pro League. Meanwhile, fans will still eagerly await the day Ronaldo returns to see the yellow-clad team's attack become even more formidable.