Al Fateh v Al Nassr Match Outlook
Al-Nassr has the opportunity to narrow Al-Hilal’s advantage at the summit of the Saudi Pro League to a mere point, as they travel to Al-Fateh on Saturday in a fixture anticipated to be largely influenced by Cristiano Ronaldo’s comeback for the visiting team.
The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient, Ronaldo, is expected to make his return after a four-match absence, having previously expressed dissatisfaction regarding the club’s lack of transfer activity before the Saudi transfer window concluded.
Moreover, head coach Jorge Jesus’s position remains uncertain; the Portuguese tactician’s contract expires at the season’s end, and he has missed several press conferences since the controversy began.
Should Ronaldo aim for a spectacular return, the record goal-scorer in men’s football history will likely need to assist in dismantling an Al-Fateh squad known for employing a low defensive block and effectively executing counter-attacks.
Al-Fateh also operates under Portuguese leadership, with Jose Gomes at the helm. His team endured a 9-0 thrashing in his second game in charge against Jesus’s Al-Hilal earlier in 2024.
While that stands as Gomes’ most significant managerial defeat, Al-Fateh boasts a reasonable record this season, securing six victories and suffering eight losses across 20 league encounters, which includes a 2-1 triumph over Al-Hilal in November.
They have gone winless in their last six fixtures but managed a draw in their most recent outing against fourth-placed Al-Qadsiah on February 7, a game where winger Matias Vargas netted his sixth league goal of the current campaign, bringing his overall tally to eight.
An unexpected victory would elevate Al-Fateh past Al-Khaleej into ninth place and maintain Al-Nassr’s third position, keeping them a point behind Al-Ahli.
Al Fateh v Al Nassr Squad Updates
Mourad Batna has netted four goals this season, but the Al-Fateh winger has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during their 1–1 home draw against Al Hazem on February 1.
This situation might provide 21-year-old Wesley Delgado with an opportunity to shine, while 34-year-old Marwane Saadane, a former Morocco centre-back or defensive midfielder, could prove vital if the underdogs are to achieve their first clean sheet in eight matches.
Striker Fahad Al-Zubaidi, on loan from Al-Nassr, is nevertheless expected to participate.
Attacking midfielder Sami Al-Najei and forward Saad Haqawi are questionable for Al-Nassr, a team for which Ronaldo has registered 17 league goals this season.
This places the 41-year-old third in the scoring charts, behind Julian Quinones of Al-Qadsiah (18 goals) and former England striker Ivan Toney of Al-Ahli (19 goals).
The influential defender Mohamed Simakan has regained full fitness.
Al Fateh v Al Nassr Anticipated Starting Formations
Al Fateh initial XI: Fernando Pacheco, Saeed Baattia, Jorge Fernandes, Marwane Saadane, Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem, Zaydou Youssouf, Naif Masoud, Fahad Al-Zubaidi, Sofiane Bendebka, Wesley Delgado, Matias Vargas
Al Nassr initial XI: Bento, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Mohamed Simakan, Inigo Martinez, Salem Al-Najdi, Marcelo Brozovic, Angelo Gabriel, Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo
Watching Al Fateh v Al Nassr: TV Channel, Live Online Broadcast
The match is scheduled to commence on Saturday at 17:30 GMT (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT). In the United Kingdom, the Saudi top-tier league is broadcast on the Saudi Pro League YouTube channel.
For viewers in the US, FOX Sports serves as the live broadcaster for the Saudi Pro League.
Al Fateh v Al Nassr Key Statistics
- Al-Fateh has failed to secure a victory in eight of their last nine home encounters against Al-Nassr.
- Their total of 26 goals in this season’s division averages out to 1.3 per game.
- On average, Al-Fateh has been conceding almost two goals per home league match in the 2025/26 season.
- This places them with the 15th-best home defensive record within the division.
- With an average of 12.6 fouls incurred per match, Al-Fateh is the team that suffers the most fouls in the league.
- Al-Nassr has emerged victorious in 14 of the 23 meetings between these two clubs, experiencing defeat three times.
- They have triumphed in four of the last five instances of this fixture.
- At an average of 2.5 goals per league game, Al-Nassr has accumulated 51 goals in the current top flight season.
- Boasting the second-best away record in the division, Al-Nassr averages more than two goals per game when playing on the road.
- They have allowed the fewest shots in the league, conceding an average of merely 6.7 attempts per match.
- Ronaldo has found the net in his last four consecutive appearances against Al-Fateh, including a hat-trick in 2023.
- In total, Ronaldo has scored eight goals across six matches against them.
- Joao Felix recorded a hat-trick when Al-Nassr secured a 5-1 win in the reverse fixture in October, with Ronaldo and Kingsley Coman also contributing to the scoreline.
- Sofiane Bendebka netted a reply in that game, while Ronaldo missed a penalty and Sadio Mane provided two assists.