After their continental exploits in Dubai – that is, securing their place in next month’s AFC Champions League Two final – attention turns back to domestic matters for Al Nassr.
And what a return to Roshn Saudi League action: starting with the top-of-the-table clash with Al Ahli on Wednesday, the league leaders enter a season-defining series of three matches in the space of nine days.
On the back of a club-record 15 straight wins in the RSL (and 19 in all competitions), Al Nassr have taken a stranglehold on top spot, sitting eight points clear with only five rounds remaining. Even though second-placed Riyadh arch-rivals Al Hilal have a game in hand, Al Nassr’s destiny lies in their own hands.
Al Nassr celebrate home win against Al Ettifaq to move eight points clear at top
Of course, the advantage at the summit could be cut to five points before Al Nassr host Al Ahli at what’s sure to be a packed Al Awwal Park, with Al Hilal playing first this week, at home to relegation battlers Damac.
Victory for Al Hilal would put the heat back on to Al Nassr ahead of three decisive fixtures – trips to Al Qadsiah and Al Shabab follow Al Ahli – across the next week that will shape the outcome of this season’s title race.
A fourth fixture, against Al Hilal in the penultimate round on May 12, could be the most colossal of the lot. Or, in fact, the title could be already decided by then. For sure, the campaign’s second Capital Derby looms large on the horizon.
Fresh in Al Nassr’s mind will be this run of corresponding fixtures from the beginning of the year, in which they slipped up, losing to all of Al Ahli, Al Qadsiah and Al Hilal. In turn, they ceded control of the championship.
Having regained their place at the summit thanks to that remarkable RSL run, a similar sequence of results would dent Al Nassr again – and with precious little time to turn it back around for a second time.
However, they really cannot afford to look any further ahead than Wednesday’s mouth-watering match-up against the recently crowned back-to-back champions of Asia.
On one hand, it’s the worst time to play Al Ahli, when they’re riding high from a second successive continental success and perhaps inspired to stage an incredible comeback by overhauling the 10-point gap to Al Nassr. Undeniably, that’s only possible with a win this week in Riyadh.
Al Nassr's 3-2 defeat at Al Ahli was their first loss of the RSL season
On the flip side, the celebrations in Jeddah have barely died down, and there is also the chance that Al Ahli’s players could, subconsciously, be basking still in their historic achievement. Remember, after last year’s AFC Champions League Elite final triumph, they lost two of their next four fixtures.
Al Nassr will take comfort, too, from their recent RSL record against Matthias Jaissle’s men. Aside from that 3-2 reverse in early January, the 2018-19 champions were undefeated against Al Ahli in their previous seven meetings.
Yet, navigate Al Ahli and then come Brendan Rodgers’ Al Qadsiah who, until a few recent and unexpected slip-ups, were major contenders in the title race themselves.
Julian Quinones pounces on Nawaf Al Aqidi's error to put Al Qadsiah 1-0 up at Al Nassr
A run of three games without a win has all-but-ended Al Qadsiah’s hopes but, after last week’s announcement by the Asian Football Confederation of an increase in slots for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite, qualifying for continental football is now paramount for the Al Khobar club.
Get through a battle with a boosted Al Qadsiah and Al Nassr round out an arduous nine-day programme with another Riyadh derby, although not the one originally planned.
Owing to their qualification for the Asian Champions League Two final – Al Nassr host Japan’s Gamba Osaka on May 16 – the matches against Al Hilal and Al Shabab have flipped, with the trip across town to the latter brought forward a week.
Kingsley Coman's hat-trick sends Al Nassr into AFC Champions League Two final
Despite languishing 12th in the table, nothing can be taken for granted against Noureddine Ben Zekri’s dangerous side. While Al Nassr haven’t lost in their past eight RSL matches against Al Shabab, every time it’s been by fine margins.
Earlier this season, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co needed a late goal from Abdulrahman Ghareeb to edge a 3-2 victory, while last season saw a 2-2 draw and a narrow 2-1 win. Before that, it was another narrow 3-2 success courtesy of a late strike from the now-departed Anderson Talisca.
With Yannick Carrasco enjoying a standout RSL campaign, Abderrazak Hamdallah chasing Omar Al Somah in the RSL all-time charts, and rising Jordanian star Ali Al Azaizeh, Al Shabab clearly possess the firepower to trouble Al Nassr.
Come away unblemished from all of that, though, and Jesus' team could be primed for a first top-flight title in seven years.
Patently, this is Al Nassr's moment of truth. One momentary mid-season wobble aside, to their credit they have appeared in control of their destiny throughout the 2025-26 RSL.
Boasting the likes of two-time golden boot Ronaldo, dazzling debutant Joao Felix and Senegal superstar Sadio Mane, this side have been built, and coached expertly by Jesus, for this very moment.
Beginning with Al Ahli on their own patch, this is Al Nassr’s time to deliver.
