Al-Nassr v NEOM preview
The fixture between Al-Nassr and NEOM, slated for tomorrow evening, is set to proceed in spite of mounting apprehension within the area, attributable to the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.
Numerous locations across Saudi Arabia have been struck by Iranian forces, sparking concerns regarding a potential suspension of the Pro League.
Nevertheless, the league organizers have chosen to press on for the time being, with this resolution arriving at a crucial juncture in the season.
Al-Nassr’s 3-1 victory against Al-Fayha last Saturday enabled them to retain their position at the summit of the standings, allowing them to enter the twenty-fifth round with a two-point advantage over Al-Ahli. However, these standings might shift before the match commences, as Al-Ahli faces Al-Ittihad this evening.
The home side will be without the services of their skipper, Cristiano Ronaldo, due to an injury, potentially facing an absence of up to a month from play.
Having ascended as titleholders for the second consecutive campaign in 2024/25, NEOM have failed to secure back-to-back victories since September, under the guidance of ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Gaultier, who assumed control in July.
The side sitting eighth suffered a 2-1 home loss against Al-Kholood last Saturday and were handed a 3-1 home drubbing by Al-Nassr in November, a match in which Ronaldo netted one of the goals.
Among Galtier’s recent acquisitions are ex-Everton central player Abdoulaye Doucoure, who did not feature in the clash with Al-Kholood, and former Lyon, West Ham, and Brentford winger Said Benrahma, who entered the game as a substitute.
Strasbourg’s loanee and French youth international Rayane Messi features in their offensive unit, as does Lyon icon Alexandre Lacazette, who earned Arsenal’s player of the season accolade during the 2018/19 campaign.
Lacazette concluded his second stint with the Ligue 1 outfit to sign with NEOM and boasts five goals from his past seven outings.
Al-Nassr v NEOM team news
Ronaldo was withdrawn due to a right hamstring ailment during the Al-Fayha match over the weekend and might have departed the nation, as publicly accessible flight radar information indicates the private aircraft of the Portuguese captain touched down in Madrid early on Tuesday morning.
With Ronaldo sidelined, ex-Premier League top scorer Sadio Mane is rumored to have shared the role of main striker with Saudi Arabia international Abdullah Al-Hamdan during practice sessions, while Brazilian Angelo Gabriel occupied the Senegal international’s position on the flank.
Custodian Raghed Al-Najjar is suffering from a knee ailment, and Brazilian Pinto is anticipated to fill in, as reported by Al-Riyadh, with Mubarak Al-Buainain serving as his reserve.
Central players Abdulmalik Al-Jaber and Sami Al-Najai are recuperating from knee complaints.
NEOM will be without defender Saad Al-Mousa and wide player Muhanad Al-Saad (both foot injuries). Similarly, custodian Marcin Bulka and central midfielder Abbas Al-Hassan are unavailable due to sustained knee problems.
Al-Nassr v NEOM expected line-ups
Al-Nassr anticipated lineup: Pinto; Nawaf Bu Washl, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al Amri, Inigo Martinez, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Marcelo Brozovic, Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Abdullah Al-Hamdan
NEOM anticipated lineup: Luis Maximiano, Khalifah Al Dawsari, Ahmed Hegazi, Nathan Zeze, Faris Abdi, Salman Al Faraj, Amadou Kone, Alaa Al Haji, Rayane Messi, Alexandre Lacazette, Luciano Rodriguez
How to watch Al-Nassr v NEOM
The encounter commences at 7:00 PM GMT this Saturday (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). For viewers in the United Kingdom, the official channel for the Saudi top-tier league is the Saudi Pro League YouTube channel.
Within the United States, FOX Sports holds the exclusive live broadcasting rights for the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Nassr vs Neom stats
- These clubs have contested only a single prior fixture in the Pro League, with a Ronaldo goal contributing to Al-Nassr’s 3-1 triumph during their previous encounter in November.
- Al-Nassr has secured victories in their preceding twelve matches across all tournaments.