RIYADH: Al-Nassr maintained a perfect start to their Saudi Pro League campaign with a 5-1 win over Al-Riyadh at Al-Awwal Park in the 2025-2026 season’s third round of matches.
With a full haul of nine points from three matches so far, Al-Nassr lead the early season standings on goal difference for the second week running.
It took only six minutes for the home team to take the lead, Joao Felix converting from close range after some excellent wing play from Kingsley Coman.
The second goal came on the half-hour mark when Coman ran through on goal and confidently finished with his right foot past Riyadh goalkeeper Milan Borjan. The lead was extended only three minutes later when Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the act with a goal not dissimilar to Coman’s. This time, the assist came from the Nassr captain’s Portuguese international colleague Felix.
In the 44th minute, a goal by Felix was overturned by VAR for a foul earlier in the move by Sadio Mane, who received a yellow card for his infraction.
But it did not take long for Al-Nassr to notch up their fourth, man of the match Felix again at the heart of the action to score his second of the night just four minutes after the restart.
Mamadou Sylla pulled one back for Al-Riyadh on 51 minutes with a fine diving header but, even with the majority of the second half still to play, it never looked to be anything other than a consolation for the visitors.
Ronaldo rounded up the scoring in the 78th minute after latching on to Coman’s lay-off to give Al-Nassr a comprehensive 5-1 win over their city rivals. It was the second time in three SPL matches that the Riyadh giants have scored five goals.
Earlier in the day, Al-Ittihad were moments away from dropping their first points of the season at Al-Najma before N’Golo Kante’s superb first-time finish secured a last-gasp away win to maintain their perfect start to the season. With a maximum nine points, the reigning champions are second in the table behind Al-Nassr on goal difference.
Al-Qadsiah, who beat Al-Khaleej 2-1 on Friday night, are third with seven points.
In Saturday’s third match, Al-Hazem were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Al-Fateh.
