RIYADH — Al Nassr reignited the Saudi Pro League title race with a commanding 3-1 victory over fierce rivals Al Hilal in a fiery Riyadh derby at Kingdom Arena on Friday night. The win, secured by a Cristiano Ronaldo double and a long-range strike from Ali Al Hassan, lifted Al Nassr to 54 points, trimming the gap with league leaders Al Ittihad to seven points in the closing stretch of the season. The result saw Al Nassr take a critical three points from a match packed with intensity, controversy, and moments of brilliance — with Ronaldo once again proving decisive on the biggest stage. Al Hilal threatened early, with Sergej Milinković-Savić hitting the crossbar in the 7th minute, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag for offside. Moments later, Ronaldo suffered a knock to his shoulder but continued to play. Sadio Mané created danger down the left flank and forced Yassine Bounou into a save in the 18th minute. Despite sustained pressure from both sides, it was Al Nassr who struck first — and spectacularly — when Ali Al Hassan fired a curling effort from outside the area in stoppage time of the first half after a well-placed pass from Marcelo Brozović, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Barely two minutes into the second half, Ronaldo doubled the lead with a powerful left-footed finish from inside the box after a blistering counterattack led by Mané. Al Hilal pushed forward and were rewarded in the 62nd minute when Ali Al Bulayhi headed home following a corner and an assist by Milinković-Savić. But Al Nassr managed the game effectively and nearly extended their lead in the 71st minute when Marcos Leonardo's shot was deflected wide. Shortly after, VAR intervened after a handball by substitute Muteb Al Harbi during a tussle with Jhon Durán inside the box. After a lengthy review, referee Georgi Kabakov pointed to the spot. Ronaldo stepped up and coolly slotted home his second of the night, making it 3-1 and securing all three points for Al Nassr. The Portuguese star now leads the league's scoring chart with 21 goals. Al Hilal threw bodies forward in the final minutes, with Salem Al Dawsari and Leonardo threatening, but Bento and his backline held firm. The defeat is a blow to Al Hilal's title hopes, while Al Nassr's momentum continues to build as the title race heads into its final rounds.
