Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr was on the wrong end of a soul-crushing loss to Al-Ittihad on May 7, 2025, in front of 25,000 at Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh. The Portuguese forward’s squad sprinted out to a two-goal advantage in the game. Instead, they looked on in shock as the lead evaporated in a remarkable turnaround, sinking them down to fourth in the Saudi Pro League table.
Al-Nassr came out of the gates flying. In the 37th minute, the Senegal international played a crucial ball for Ayman Yahya, doubling the lead to 2-0. Ronaldo attempted a shot on goal during this period, showcasing his aggressive play style, but ultimately, it was Yahya’s finish that solidified their advantage. That unlucky streak started to shake soon after the second half opened.
Al-Ittihad then went on a blistering counterattack that had the tournament on its heels. French midfielder N’Golo Kante took advantage and scored the equalizer, cutting the score to 2-1. Moments later, Karim Benzema further reduced the gap with a header in the 49th minute, leveling the score at 2-2 and igniting hope for Al-Ittihad fans.
As the game marched into stoppage time, it was Houssem Aouar who became the savior for Al-Ittihad. He netted the game-winner and capped off his team’s dramatic comeback victory. Al-Ittihad squeezed through an exciting round of 16 match with a 3-2 win. This victory represents a significant turning point in the fighting for the Saudi Pro League title.
Al-Ittihad has won the title this season and currently sit first in the league table with 71 points. They currently sit six points ahead of their closest challengers, Al-Hilal, with only four matches remaining in their season. To this end, they have built up a strong advantage in their quest for the championship crown. At the same time, Al-Nassr is still sitting fourth with 60 points and 11 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
Ronaldo, along with his teammates, is obviously very hurt by the team’s loss. They were hoping to be in the league title race this year. Dropping all the way to fourth place makes their hopes much more challenging and keeps them requiring a big finish to stay in contention.
