Al-Hilal defeats Al-Nassr 3-1 and takes sole possession of the top spot in the Saudi Professional League
On a tumultuous football night at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal continued to cement its dominance over its rivals and confirm its supremacy over Saudi football, after it succeeded in turning its deficit into a valuable and well-deserved victory over its traditional rival Al-Nasr by three goals to one, within the competitions of the fifteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
Details of the Round 15 summit
The match began with a high tactical intensity and midfield dominance from Al-Hilal, who launched several early attacks. However, Al-Nassr's solid defense and the goalkeeper's presence prevented them from scoring. Against the run of play, Al-Nassr managed to snatch the lead in the 42nd minute through a well-executed move that began with a clever pass from João Félix to Koeman, who then set it up for Cristiano Ronaldo to fire a powerful shot into the net, giving Al-Nassr the lead in the first half.
Turning point and Al-Hilal's comeback
The second half witnessed a true blue resurgence, as Al-Hilal intensified their attacking pressure, resulting in a penalty kick successfully converted by star player Salem Al-Dawsari in the 57th minute, bringing the game back to square one. The pivotal moment of the match came in the 59th minute when the referee showed a red card to Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi after a clash with Ruben Neves, leaving Al-Nassr to finish the match with ten men.
Al-Hilal took advantage of the numerical disadvantage brilliantly, as Mohamed Kanno managed to score the opening goal in the 81st minute, before Ruben Neves fired the final shot by scoring the third goal from a penalty kick in stoppage time (90+2), confirming Al-Hilal’s right to the three points.
The importance and impact of the Riyadh derby
The matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr hold historical and popular significance that extends far beyond the borders of the Kingdom. The Riyadh derby is a prestigious showcase for Arab and Asian football, especially given the Roshan League's attraction of some of the world's brightest football stars. This victory not only secures three points for Al-Hilal but also strengthens its technical and administrative stability, sending a strong message to its rivals about the team's seriousness in reclaiming and retaining the title.
The two teams' positions in the standings
With this resounding victory, Al-Hilal increased their points tally to 38, maintaining their sole lead at the top of the league standings and widening the gap with their closest rivals, securing their twelfth win in the competition. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr's situation became more complicated after suffering their third consecutive defeat, leaving them stuck on 31 points in second place. This puts the coaching staff and players under immense pressure to return to winning ways in the upcoming rounds to ensure they remain in contention for the title.
