Ettifaq 2-1 Al Nassr: summary, score, goals, highlights, score, Saudi Pro League

FT: Ettifaq 2-1 Al Nassr

The whistle sounds and Ettifaq have come from behind to beat Al Nassr after the visitors took the lead through Sadio Mane.

Two early goals in the second half were enough to round off a great debut for Steven Gerrard on the Ettifaq bench in a game played in testing conditions with players having to contend with temperatures of 35C-95F.

Plenty of work ahead for Al Nassr with fans if the Riyadh club pointing out the fact that many regular first team players were rested after securing the Arab Club Championship over the weekend.

Past the 100 minute mark and everything points to the points staying in Dammam.

Al Nassr staring an opening day defeat in the face.

Al Nassr running out of ideas now as they loft hopeful balls into the box. 

It's all Al Nassr now as they desperately look for an added time leveller.

Al Nassr go close with ten minutes of the added time remaining.

Scratch that, we'll have 14 (fourteen) minutes .... not sure where they got fourteen from !

Last minutes and it looks like we'll have 6-7 minutes of time added on.

Great technique but yes, the flag was up and the striker was well offside.

Henderson makes way and Berat takes his place

Changes for the home side

No, it looks like the referee has seen-head enough and we're back underway.

VAR set to be called upon.

Al Nassr players surrounding the match official.

Big appeal for a penalty as it appears that a man in green handles.

Final fifteen minutes and Al Nassr go close as they strike the post and Ayman fires on target and Tisserand saves with his face.

The DR Congo international is on the floor and has saved his side.

The first Ettifaq goal

Double change for Al Nassr

23 Yayha on 

18 Adam on

19 Alhassan and Al Elewai off

The second half has failed to get any form of rhythm together with play being held up constantly.

The heat quite cleary playing a factor in the tempo of the action.  

Al Nassr change

14 on, Sami Al-Najei

8  Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem off 

An hour gone in Dammam and it's the home side who lead after two early second half goals and Al Nassr now look like the side that are out of sorts.

Ettifaq on top

What a turnaround as Ettifaq pull ahead after trailing for the bulk of the first half.

Dembele it is who puts the home side ahead.

The keeper is unlucky as he palms the ball into the French strikers path.

Ettifaq level the game

The goal has ignited the Al Ettifaq supporters as they celebrate the goal 

Quaison it is who stabbed home and it looks like the goal stands.

VAR being consulted... was Alaquidi pushed?

No 46 is on for Al Nassr and Al Ghannam is on for AlAlewa

Al Nassr get the secondhalf underway

Vitinho on for Ettifaq as the Brazilian replaces Al Ghamdi

The second half is about to commence in Dammam. Fans doing their utmost to remain cool in the oppressive temperatures. 

Al Ettifaq the first team out after the break and Steven Gerrard will be hoping for more from his side after a lackluster first 45'.

Al Nassr lead at the break

Al Nassr well worth their lead at the interval and plenty of work for Steven Gerrard after an underpar performance from his Commandos.

Sadio Mane putting a heavy rotated Al Nassr side ahead after just four minutes,

The whistle sounds and the players can get a welcome respite.

Hot atmosphere in Dammam

Ettifaq finally muster a shot on target and the Al Nassr keeper does well in pushing the ball away.

Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem needs medical attention as play is held up.

Five minutes of time added on.

Into the final minute of the half and I'd anticipate 3-4 minutes of added time due to the water break.

Into the final minutes of the half. Ettifaq yet to register a shot on target and to be honest, Gerrard's men have been second best in almost every department.

Dembele breaks and has a shot on target but it's a terrible strike from the Frenchman as the ball trickles towards the touch line.

Mane finds the target on Al Nassr debut

Time for a cooling break.

Ettifaq 0-1 Al Nassr

Just past the half hour mark and despite trailing 0-1, its Ettifaq who dominate possession with 58% possession against the 42% of Al Nassr.

Dembele is sent through but the French striker fails to control but Al Nassr manage to clear the danger.

Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem has a go from long range but fires well over.

Past the 20 minute mark and the Al Nassr keeper has yet to really be tested.

Al Nassr in control after 15'

Ettifaq applying some pressure now as Hazazi delivers a series of dangerous balls into the box but the side from Riyadh are adept in clearing the danger.

Mane just one of the two Al Nassr players who was in action last Saturday in the Arab Cup Championship final.

The likes of Brozovic, Fofana and Cristiano all getting rested after their efforts as Al Nassr lifted the title beating Al Hilal in the final.

Henderson looks for Dembele but the pass is overhit and the ball rolls into the arms of Al Nassr keeper Alaquidi.

How can Ettifaq respond as they seem rocked by the early Al Nassr goal.

First attack for the side in yellow and the Senegal striker is alert and fires Al Nassr ahead.

Neither team able to establish any domination in the opening minutes

Underway Dammam.

Ettifaq-Al Nassr: matchday weather

It's a hot and sticky evening in Dammam with a temperature of 33C-95F expected at kick-off.

Anticipate a series of water breaks to keep the players hydrated.

Interesting too to see how Moussa Dembele fares too in Dammam. 

His last move to Atletico Madrid was underwhelming with Commandos fans hoping to see the goals that made him a hero for fans of Fulham, Celtic and Lyon.

Ettifaq XI

Steven Gerrard announces his first Ettifaq side for his SPL debut.

Jordan Henderson starts for the Commandos who will be boosted by a big crowd at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium

Al Nassr

As expected Sadio Mane starts for Al Nassr but no Cristiano Ronaldo after sustaining an ankle injury in Saturday's Arab Club Championship final over Al Hilal.

Hendo and Mane arrive

Both former Liverpool heroes arrive at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium

Still no sign of any official team news from either side.

We do understand though that both Henderson and Mane will make their SPL debuts tonight.

Ettifaq v Al Nassr last meeting.

Both sides played in Dammam at the end of May in the previous campaign with the game ending 1-1.

Niakate was on target for the Commandos with Luis Gustavo bagging the equaliser for the side from Riyadh.  

Mane vs Henderson

With the team news still outstanding, will be see a meeting between two recent Liverpool greats?

Al Ittihad go top of the table with 0-3 win.

The current league champions got their new campaign underway in emphatic style as the recorded a 0-3 win away to Al Raed and currently top the SPL table on goal difference.

To be honest, it's a ridiculously quick turnaround for the side from Riyadh having being in action just last Saturday in the Arab Club Cup final.

CR7 out?

I think we can deduct from the Al Nassr pre game tweets that Cristiano will not be in action tonight with the striker not appearing in any of the pre game publications.

Despite heavy investment in players, this spending has not reached website maintenance with the latest news on the official Al Nassr website being the CR7 signing back in December 2022!

Saudi big spenders

This graphic from Sportico reveals which clubs have spent heavily with current champions Al Ittihad beringing in Benzema and Kante.

Ronaldo absence?

It appears unlikely that Cristiano Ronaldo will be fully fit for tonight's game in Dammam after the veteran striker was forced off at the end of Saturday's Arab Club Champions Cup win over city rivals Al Hilal. CR7 was on target twice during the clash that was resolved in extra time with the Madeira born striker bagging both goals for Al Nassr.

Tonight's opponents Ettifaq too have been active in the summer market and have acquired Steven Gerrard as new head coach of The Commandos. The other major summer signings are:

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool, $15.4m)

Moussa Dembélé (Lyon, free)

The Saudi Arabian top flight has been in the news constantly this summer after the massive cash outlays by major clubs in bringing in top quality stars to enhance the competition.

CR7 started the ball rolling back in January and this summer his Al Nassr side have been augmented by the likes of:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, free)

Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich, $30m)

Marcelo Brozovic (Inter, $20m)

Seko Fofana (Lens, $28m)

Alex Telles, Manchester United ($4.4m)

Ettifaq ready for the new season

The action at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam gets underway at 2pm (ET) or 11am (PT)

Hello and welcome to our live Saudi Pro League coverage from matchday one as Al Ettifaq welcome Al Nassr.