Ronaldo strikes again as Al-Nassr maintain clear Saudi Pro League leadership

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Al-Nassr's 3-1 win at NEOM. (X:@AlNassrFC_EN)
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Updated 09 November 2025
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Ronaldo strikes again as Al-Nassr maintain clear Saudi Pro League leadership

  • 3-1 win at Neom means Riyadh club with 100% record of 24 points from 8 matches

RIYADH: Al-Nassr defeated newly promoted Neom 3-1 on Saturday night to maintain their perfect start to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season.

The win was the Riyadh club’s eighth of the campaign and sees them top the table with 24 points, three ahead of surprise package Al-Taawoun, who had won 5-2 at Al-Fateh the previous night. Al-Hilal are in third on 20 points after beating hosts Al-Najma 4-2, also on Friday.

Al-Nassr led 1-0 at the break through Brazilian striker Angelo’s 42nd-minute opener and their night was made more comfortable when the home team had the Uruguayan Luciano Rodriguez sent off 11 minutes into the second period.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second from the penalty spot on 65 minutes before Ahmed Abdu halved the deficit with six minutes left. However, two minutes later Ronaldo’s fellow Portuguese forward Joao Felix made it 3-1 to end any hopes the home team had of a late comeback.

In Saturday’s other matches, reigning champions Al-Ittihad’s miserable defense of their title continued with a 1-0 loss at home to Asian champions Al-Ahli in the Jeddah derby, while Al-Ettifaq managed a 1-1 draw at Al-Shabab.


Dubai Basketball marks Ramadan opener with win and 3,055 eels donated to UAE Food Bank

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Dubai Basketball marks Ramadan opener with win and 3,055 eels donated to UAE Food Bank

  • The ‘Basket for Basket’ initiative took place during the team’s 96-85 EuroLeague victory over LDLC ASVEL

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball won their EuroLeague round 29  game against LDLC ASVEL here on Thursday and celebrated by pledging 3,055 meals to families in need across the UAE.

The 96-85 win marked the club’s first game of Ramadan. Through the “Basket for Basket” initiative, every point scored by Dubai Basketball counted as a meal donated, with every ticket purchased adding to the total.

By the final buzzer, 3,055 meals had been secured in partnership with the UAE Food Bank to be distributed throughout the month of Ramadan.

Dubai Basketball Head Coach Jurica Golemac said after the game: “Thank you to the fans. It wasn’t an easy game to play, but we approached it with the right level of seriousness.

“We stayed disciplined, extended our lead step by step, defended well, and maintained our focus. I’m also very happy to say that during the holy month of Ramadan, we were able to donate more than 3,000 meals tonight.”

Co-CEO Dejan Kamenjasevic said: “To open this month with a win is special, but to do it while supporting thousands of families across the UAE is what truly matters.

“Basketball brought everyone together tonight, our players, our fans, our partners, together we created something meaningful.

“This is exactly what Dubai Basketball stands for: competing at the highest level, proudly representing this city while never losing sight of our responsibility to the community.”

The team delivered a strong collective performance at home. Mfiondu Kabengele set the tone early with a dominant scoring display, while Dwayne Bacon and McKinley Wright provided balance and control to secure the result.