Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej

On Wednesday afternoon, Al-Nassr will play mid-table rival Al Khaleej in the final Saudi Pro League match of the 2024–25 season at Al-Awwal Park.

With 32 games played, the hosts will be in fourth place with 64 points going into the penultimate matchday of the season, while the visitors are in tenth place with 37 points. With two games left, Al-Nassr, who have had a difficult season in the Saudi Pro League, can only finish with a maximum of 70 points, which is 12 fewer than they had when they finished as runners-up the previous season.

The Riyadh-based team now hopes to avoid defeat for the seventh consecutive game in order to defeat Al Quadisiya to second place and make their final-day matchup with the third-place team on May 26 a formality. They have scored four goals or more under the interim manager, winning 5-3 at Al Raed, 4-0 at Al Orubah, and 4-3 at Al Fateh.

Fans will encourage their side to extend their winning streak to six games, which would secure the runners-up position, since they are aware of their team's five-game unbeaten away record in the top division, during which they have won four games.

Match Preview: Al-Nassr vs. Al Khaleej

Recent Form and Context:

• Al-Nassr (The Knights of Najd) are coming off a frustrating 1-1 draw against Al Taawoun, missing their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, due to illness. This result saw them drop to fourth place in the Saudi Pro League, seven points behind second-placed Al-Hilal with only two games remaining. Their hopes of qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite next season are over, and their chances of continental football (AFC Champions League Two) hinge on finishing third and Al-Ittihad winning the King's Cup final against Al-Qadsiah.
• Al Khaleej (The Pearls) secured a 2-1 comeback win against Al Orubah, with Kostas Fortounis scoring twice to reach seven goals this season. This ended a five-match winless streak, though their overall form remains inconsistent, with only two wins in their last 15 games. They are set for a mid-table finish, matching last season’s points tally (37) with two games left.

Team Performance:

• Al-Nassr have been strong at home, losing only two of their last 10 league matches at Al-Awwal Park and scoring at least two goals in nine of those games. Their recent form (W2, D1, L2 in the last five league matches) shows inconsistency but highlights their attacking prowess, especially at home.
• Al Khaleej have been better on the road, earning 21 of their 37 points away from home. Since March, their only away losses were against top sides Al-Hilal and Al Ettifaq, suggesting resilience against mid-tier teams like Al-Nassr on their travels.

Key Players:

• Al-Nassr: Without Ronaldo, players like Wesley Teixeira and Nawaf Buwash will need to step up. Their home scoring record suggests they can still pose a threat.
• Al Khaleej: Kostas Fortounis is in form, with his recent brace showcasing his importance. Ismael Kandouss also provides a goal-scoring threat from defense.

Head-to-Head and Tactical Notes:

• Al-Nassr’s attacking strength at home (scoring 2+ goals in most recent home games) could challenge Al Khaleej’s defense, which has struggled during their winless run. However, Al Khaleej’s solid away form and ability to grind out results against non-elite teams could make this a tight contest.
• Al-Nassr will likely dominate possession and push for goals, while Al Khaleej may rely on counter-attacks, with Fortounis being the key outlet.

Prediction: Given Al-Nassr’s strong home record and Al Khaleej’s patchy form, the Knights of Najd are favorites to win, especially if Ronaldo returns. However, Al Khaleej’s away resilience could keep the scoreline close. Expect a 2-1 victory for Al-Nassr, with Fortounis potentially scoring for the visitors.