RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo wasted no time in getting back among the goals after the mid-season break on Saturday as Al-Nassr defeated Al-Fateh 2-1.
The win, in what was an entertaining and open game — a fifth league victory in a row — puts Al-Nassr just four points behind leaders Al-Hilal.
The opening goal came after 17 minutes in a simple but clinical fashion. Sultan Al-Ghannam’s low pass from the right found the Portuguese star in the area and Ronaldo, who scored in the Asian Champions League midweek, coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner for his 21st league goal of the season so far.
Al-Fateh were on level terms just before the half-hour thanks to Salem Al-Najdi. The Yellows failed to clear a free kick, and the ball fell to the 21-year-old arriving at the edge of the area to shoot into the top corner though goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah, who had just been introduced to the action to replace Raghed A-Najjar, who had picked up an injury.
Al-Najjar was only in the team as Nawaf Al-Aqidi is serving a ban handed down by the Saudi Football Federation after national team coach Roberto Mancini questioned his commitment.
It means that Al-Nassr have something of a goalkeeping crisis as Colombian David Ospina is also injured. There are also concerns over Al-Ghannam and Otavio, who went off late in the game.
Somehow early in the second half, Al-Fateh missed a chance to move ahead. Djaniny shot against the post from close range leaving the rebound for Lucas Zelarayan, who had the goal at his mercy. Somehow, the Argentine hit his shot straight at Al-Najjar when it seemed easier to score.
Al-Fateh were on top, and soon after the visitors thought they had a penalty after Murad Batna was brought down in the area by Aymeric Laporte, but VAR did not agree.
Just before the hour, and the lively Cristian Tello cut inside from the left and forced another save from the stand-in stopper.
Ronaldo almost got his second with a shot from the edge of the area that was saved by Jacob Rinne.
All of a sudden the hosts were looking more dangerous, then Al-Ghannam broke down the right and sent over another perfect cross, and there was Otavio, diving in the area to head Al-Nassr back into the lead.
This time there was no coming back for Al-Fateh, who continued to try and push forward but came up empty-handed and stay in seventh.
Al-Hilal can extend their lead at the top with a win at home against Al-Raed on Sunday.
Ronaldo strikes again as Al-Nassr best Al-Fateh
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Ronaldo strikes again as Al-Nassr best Al-Fateh
- Victory puts Al-Nassr just four points behind leaders Al-Hilal
Arbeloa backs five Real Madrid stars he ‘always’ wants playing
- Los Blancos have sometimes struggled for balance when too many of their attacking talents play together
- “I always want to have the best players on the pitch, and the more minutes they can be available to the team for me, the better,” Arbeloa said
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa insisted Saturday he would stand by the team’s star players and give them as many minutes as possible, despite debate over whether the team can function effectively with them all on the pitch.
Los Blancos, who were beaten at Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday to drop into the play-off round, have sometimes struggled for balance when too many of their attacking talents play together.
Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior have completed each of the last four games for Arbeloa, along with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while midfielder Fede Valverde started all four and been substituted once.
“I always want to have the best players on the pitch, and the more minutes they can be available to the team for me, the better,” Arbeloa told a news conference, when asked if those five players were “untouchable.”
“These are players who can shake up a match at any moment. There will be people who aren’t Madrid fans who don’t want them on the pitch, but I imagine Madrid supporters want their best players always available, always on the field.
“I think the five players mentioned are among the top ten in the world, and so they have my full trust. And it’s not just my trust — their performance is what’s putting them on the pitch.”
Real Madrid host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in La Liga, looking to bounce back from the defeat by Benfica and put pressure on leaders Barcelona.
French superstar Mbappe criticized the team for their inconsistency and Arbeloa said Madrid are working on solving that issue.
“Look, we’re working to find the consistency we want in our game and at all levels, and I think right now it’s neither a time for disappointment nor a time for euphoria,” said Arbeloa.
“It’s a time for work, nothing more.”
