Al Fateh 2-2 Al Nassr: score, goals, highlights, Saudi Pro League

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Many thanks for joining us today and hope you can tune in for the next live games as we bring you both club World Cup games on Saturday, as Seattle Sounders face Al Ahly with the dat starting with WAC Casablanca-Al Hilal.

A bad tempered end to a decent game as CR7 finally gets his goal in the Saudi Pro League

The whistle finally sounds and the game ends 2-2

Frantic end to the action as the game now moves into the 9th minute of added time.

2-2

What a crazy end to the game.... 7 minutes of time to be added

Talisca now red carded after a VAR review

Right footed and firm as the game is tied !

Al Nassr draw level

CR7 to take !!!!!!

Masharipov it was who was fouled...

Talisca grabs the ball... the Brazilian to take ?

Drama here now as Al Nassr are awarded a spot kick 

Trouble here maybe for CR7 as he drags an Al Fateh player from the floor and a mini-fracas breaks out.

The home side happy to watch the minutes tick down and both Ronaldo and Al Daheem carded

Talisca goes close and forces a fine save from Rinne as Al Nassr press now as the clock ticks down

Al Fateh almost make it 3-1 as Rossi is called into action to save from a Al Othman header.

Last ten at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium and it looks bleak for Al Nassr who have struggled to create chances in this half.

Ali Lajami carded for a cynical foul as Rudi Garcia looks anxious on the touchline. 

Another poor performance from his side in this half.

Talisca and CR7 have yet to get going in the second 45.

A defeat today to Al Fateh would really give the other contenders at the top of the table a real boost... Al Shabab played and won yesterday. Al Hilal are on Club World Cup duty and Al Ittihad face Al Ta'ee tomorrow.

Tello makes way for Al Najdi

Excellent goal on his debut but the player from Sabadell faded as the contest wore on.

Just over 20 minutes remain for Al Nassr to claw their way back into the game.

Al Fateh have had two shots on target and two goals!

Changes for Al Nassr

Bendebka is carded for a lunge on Cristiano.

The Bendebka goal

So, just as we saw in the first 45'... Al Nassr dominate but it's the home side who strike.

A mazy long hit ball from Saadane but what a finish from Bendebka who made the goal look easy.

Sofiane Bendebka breaking the offside to volley past Rossi ..a fine finish from the Algerian.

The start of the second half developing a similar pattern to that of the first as Al Nassr dominate. 

Abdulrahman Ghareeb is looking solid for the visitors at the moment.

Ronaldo combines well with Talisca but the Brazilian heads over with nothing of concern for the Swedish keeper manning the Al Fateh sticks this evening.

Ghareeb clips the ball in and the delivery, despite being neither shot nor cross drifts inches wide of Rinne's goal.

Off we go ... Al Nassr start the second half

The teams return to the pitch at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium

Saudi Pro League big guns Al Hilal are in Club World Cup action tomorrow as the face CAF Champions League holders Wydad Casablanca in Rabat.

Still no breakthrough for Cristiano although the Portuguese has gone close twice rattling the crossbar towards the end of the half and blazing over earlier on after Talisca had struck the post.

Tello's 12th minute goal for Al Fateh the highlight of the half though.

The whistle sounds for the interval and we'll certainly take more of what we had in the last 15' when the game really came to life.

1-1 at the interval it is though !

Plenty of energy coming from the stands too as fans of both sides really getting behind their teams.

The game has really come to life in the past 10-15v minutes.

Al Nassr break again and this time the shot comes from Ghareeb as Cristiano drives the ball off the crossbar.

Into stoppage time with 3 additional minutes to be added.

Just before the break and Talisca left footed slots home with poor keeping from Al Fateh's goalkeeper.

Drifting towards the half-time break and still nothing going Al Nassr's way in front of goal with Al Fateh defending in numbers.

Better from Al Nassr now but one can sense that a lack of an opening goal for his side is starting to become an issue for CR7.

Tello seems invigorated through his goal as the Catalan striker cuts inside but sees his shot gathered this time by Al Nassr stopper.

Talisca strikes the post and the rebound falls to Ronaldo but the veteran striker snaps at the ball and drives over....

Should have done better !

Despite a solid first 10 minutes or so, the home side have enjoyed the better of chances and are good value for their lead.

Talisca and Cristiano have yet to get into a rhythm and the Al Nassr atack lacks spark as things stand.

Still no way through for Al Nassr and it seems that the visitors are playing with an added degree of pressure and anxiety with the final ball rushed and lacking precision.

Al Fateh almost go 2-0 ahead as Saadane drives a free kick inches wide.

Al Nassr now trying to press and regain control of the game as CR7 has the ball in the net but the goal won't stand as the Portuguese striker had drifted into an offside position when collecting the ball.

What a blow for the visitors with Al Fateh now playing with added swagger as Al Nassr struggle to find a way past the well organised men in blue.

Rossi punches the ball out, but only to Tello and the former LAFC man celebrates his first game for Al Fateh with a sublime volley that leaves the Argentine keeper stranded...

What a way to start ones career with Al Fateh.

Despite their dominance, the visitors have yet to muster a shot on the goal being manned by Swede Jacob Rinne.

We've yet to see Tello get involved in the action for the home side as the player from Sabadell gets his first taste of the Saudi Pro League.

Possession after 10 minutes:

Al Fateh 33-67 (%) Al Nassr

The first five minutes have been very much one way traffic with the side in cream almost exclusively dominating the ball.

Al Fateh chasing shadows at present.

Was just about to say how impressed I've been with Talisca in the past few Al Nassr games and then the Brazilian balloon's the ball miles over the bar.....

Apart from that particular stunt, the 29-year-old looks the part

CR7 straight into the action but he flag is up as the Portuguese striker looks to break free....

Off we go... Al Fateh start the game...

All set at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium

A very windy evening here in the East of the country as the players and match officials wear Saudi Pro League scarves that are getting blown about from the gusts of wind.

Al Fateh in their classic all blue today with Al Nassr sporting their all cream away kit.

Plenty of travelling fans as players line up for the Saudi national anthem.

Al Nassr's 4-2-3-1 against Al Fateh's 4-3-3...

The last meeting here between both sides saw Al Nassr run out with a 0-1 win... Talisca on target for the visitors on Jan 1st (2022)

Kick-off looms as fans continue to arrive

There will be a bumper crowd at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium today with most eyes focused on the Al Nassr No. 7.

It will also be interesting to see how Cristian Tello adapts to life in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Fateh-Al Nassr: match official

Argentine Fernando Andrés Rapallini has been put in charge with overseeing today's SPL action.

The La Plata has been a FIFA referee since 2014 and was in charge of the Spain-Morocco game at the 2022 Qatar World Cup

Al Fateh-Al Nassr weather

A mild 18C/64F for the action today as Al Nassr fans hope that today will be the day when Ronaldo can notch his first goal in a yellow Al Nassr shirt.

Tello starts for Al Fateh

The 31-year-old Tello is straight into the side for Al Fateh's Greek coach Giorgos Donis.

CR7 starts for Al Nassr

Despite some speculation that an ankle problem sustained last week in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final could rule the Portuguese out today, the former Man United man likes up alongside Talisca in the Al Nassr strike force.

Agustin Rossi, on loan from Boca Juniors starts in goal for the side from Riyadh today as David Ospina continues his rehabilitation from his injury

Possible Tello debut today

We could see Cristian Tello wear the Al Fateh shirt for the first time today since he moved to the SPL.

The attacking player has played with the likes of Betis, Porto, Fiorentina and Barcelona in the past and joins Al Fateh after a spell with MLS side LAFC.

Blue clad Al Fateh fans in place

Fans of Abna Al Nakhil (Sons of the Palm), as Al Fateh are known man the stands at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium with a big crowd expected for the visit of the side from the capital.

SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Cristiano boosts SPL international profile with 36 territories now broadcasting games

The Portuguese striker is set to play his third game for Al Nassr on Friday as demand for the SPL games continuing to grow internationally.

The Saudi Pro League table

Here's how the table looks ahead of this afternoon's game ....

Extremely tight at the top with five main contenders for the title.

Both Al Nassr and Al Ittihad have the advantage of having games in hand.

Al Nassr touchdown in Al Ahsa (the city where with the city approximately 350km away from Riyadh.)

Today's game will be staged at the 20,000 capacity Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium

Cristiano Ronaldo has now played two competitive games for new side Al Nassr. His debut saw the Riyadh based outfit beat Ettifaq as the veteran striker captained the team as part of a 1-0 win over the Damman club to regain top spot in the Roshn Saudi League.

His second game in the Al Nassr shirt ended in disappointment as the side coached by Rudy Garcia fell to Al Ittihad in the semi-final stage of the Saudi Super Cup

Al Nassr will be looking to win and recover top spot in the table after Al Shabab beat Damac 2-1 to leapfrog the Riyadh side who have 33 points against the 34 of Al Shabab.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from the Saudi Pro League as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr play away against Al Fateh.