Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Saudi Pro League action as captain in Al Nassr vs Al Hilal at the top of the table on Friday – and fellow forward Talisca gave his side a scintillating start by scoring after a minute at Al-Awwal Park.
Talisca collected Otavio’s pass and fired in to open the scoring in the derby game, but the unmarked Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed the 77th-minute equaliser as reigning champions Al Hilal secured a 1-1 draw.
Al Nassr remain six points behind Al Hilal after nine games. Second-placed Al Ittihad, whose stars include Champions League winners Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, are five points above Ronaldo’s team.
All eyes on derby day under the lights of AlAwwal Park 💛
Can you feel the excitement? Let’s get this win, Nassrawis ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/Bx1OTBLaI7— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 1, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Al Nassr starting lineup: Ronaldo restored
“You in the stands, us on the pitch,” Ronaldo told his club’s fans on social media on Thursday. “Together as one. See you at the game.”
Al Nassr surprisingly dropped points for the third time this season in the absence of top scorer Ronaldo against newly-promoted Al Kholood last Friday.
All eyes on derby day under the lights of AlAwwal Park 💛
Can you feel the excitement? Let’s get this win, Nassrawis ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/Bx1OTBLaI7— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 1, 2024
They were on course to suffer a first defeat under new manager Stefano Pioli until Talisca’s 95th-minute equaliser secured a 3-3 draw.
Ronaldo is thought to have missed the game because his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, had been treated in hospital for pneumonia, later thanking staff on Instagram as she announced her recovery.
Despite Ronaldo’s return, Italian Pioli duly lost for the first time in his tenure with a 1-0 defeat at home to Al Taawoun, who are 10th in the top flight, in the last 16 of the King Cup on Tuesday.
🎬 Last touches ⚽️#AlHilal pic.twitter.com/HwmhavLjXc
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) November 1, 2024
Why is Neymar out?
Another superstar of the Saudi Pro League, Neymar, did not make his return against Al Nassr because he has not been registered to play.
Saudi clubs are allowed a maximum of 10 non-Saudi players registered in their 25-man league squads, and Neymar’s long-term knee injury precluded him from being named at the start of the season.
Fellow Brazilian Renan Lodi took Neymar’s place, but the striker – who is the world’s most expensive player – is eligible for the AFC Champions League, which Al Hilal next play in on November 4.
🔹 Lineup 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑴𝑬𝑫 ✅#AlHilal 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/kL4cVgPMup
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) November 1, 2024
Al Hilal had the significant consolation of including former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in their starting line-up against Al Nassr.
The Serbia international’s 10 goals made him the Saudi Pro League top scorer before kick-off, with two more than next-nearest rival Benzema and four more than third-placed Ronaldo.
Wideman Joao Cancelo, who had loan spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona from Manchester City last season, started for Al Hilal, while two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane partnered Talisca and Ronaldo in their opponents’ attack.
