Al Nassr vs Al Taawon

On Friday, Al-Awwal Park will be the stage as Al-Nassr face Al-Taawoun, with the hosts aware that anything less than a win could dash their dreams of securing a spot in next season’s continental competitions.

Despite Stefano Pioli’s squad delivering a crushing victory over Al Okhdood in their last match, they remain in third place with 63 points, trailing second-placed Al Hilal by five points, giving the Big Yellows little room for mistakes in the final three games of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season.

Even with high-profile stars like the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr are at risk of ending another campaign without silverware, their last league championship coming in 2018-19.

Ronaldo’s high-profile transfer to the Riyadh club in January 2023 has yet to yield a title, with the Sun Club consistently chasing Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, and they would settle for another runner-up finish if it ensures their continental ambitions stay alive.

Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite run ended in the semi-finals with a tough loss to Kawasaki Frontale, and with Al Ahli claiming the title, the number of league qualification spots for the next tournament has been reduced to two.

This has ramped up the pressure on Pioli’s team, who need to build on last week’s commanding win – the largest away victory in the league this season – with a near-perfect run to clinch a top-two spot and avoid missing out on Asia’s premier competition.

Their 9-0 rout of Al Okhdood was a strong rebound from a frustrating loss to league leaders Al Ittihad in the prior round, made even more notable by the absence of Ronaldo from the lineup.

The decision to leave out the Portuguese star raised questions, but it was later clarified that fitness concerns were the reason, and Sadio Mane stepped up with four goals in a relentless offensive performance.

While Al-Nassr have shone away from home, their form at Al-Awwal Park has been inconsistent, with points dropped in seven of their 15 home league matches this season.

This uneven home record is particularly concerning given their recent struggles against Al-Taawoun, having fallen in both of their last two encounters at Al-Awwal – a 2-0 league loss last season and a King Cup exit in October.

Al-Taawoun have proven to be a tough opponent for Al-Nassr in recent clashes, earning a 1-1 draw earlier this season, and they now have the opportunity to go through an entire league campaign without losing to the Riyadh side for only the second time in their history.

However, their recent form has been lackluster, with Mohammed Al-Abdali’s side losing three of their last four games, failing to score in each of those defeats.

Their most recent match ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Al Quadisiya, and with 41 points, they sit comfortably in mid-table but are out of contention for continental qualification.

After finishing fourth last season, this has been a disappointing campaign for the Wolves, who can’t replicate last year’s 59-point total but will look to end the season strongly.

Al-Taawoun have performed well on the road in 2024-25, securing five wins and three draws in 15 away league matches, though their last two away games have yielded no wins (D1, L1).

# Al-Nassr vs Al-Taawoun: Crunch Time at Al-Awwal Park

On Friday, Al-Awwal Park will be the stage as Al-Nassr face Al-Taawoun, with the hosts aware that anything less than a win could dash their dreams of securing a spot in next season’s continental competitions.

Despite Stefano Pioli’s squad delivering a crushing victory over Al Okhdood in their last match, they remain in third place with 63 points, trailing second-placed Al Hilal by five points, giving the Big Yellows little room for mistakes in the final three games of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season.

Even with high-profile stars like the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr are at risk of ending another campaign without silverware, their last league championship coming in 2018-19.

Ronaldo’s high-profile transfer to the Riyadh club in January 2023 has yet to yield a title, with the Sun Club consistently chasing Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, and they would settle for another runner-up finish if it ensures their continental ambitions stay alive.

Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite run ended in the semi-finals with a tough loss to Kawasaki Frontale, and with Al Ahli claiming the title, the number of league qualification spots for the next tournament has been reduced to two.

This has ramped up the pressure on Pioli’s team, who need to build on last week’s commanding win – the largest away victory in the league this season – with a near-perfect run to clinch a top-two spot and avoid missing out on Asia’s premier competition.

Their 9-0 rout of Al Okhdood was a strong rebound from a frustrating loss to league leaders Al Ittihad in the prior round, made even more notable by the absence of Ronaldo from the lineup.

The decision to leave out the Portuguese star raised questions, but it was later clarified that fitness concerns were the reason, and Sadio Mane stepped up with four goals in a relentless offensive performance.

While Al-Nassr have shone away from home, their form at Al-Awwal Park has been inconsistent, with points dropped in seven of their 15 home league matches this season.

This uneven home record is particularly concerning given their recent struggles against Al-Taawoun, having fallen in both of their last two encounters at Al-Awwal – a 2-0 league loss last season and a King Cup exit in October.

Al-Taawoun have proven to be a tough opponent for Al-Nassr in recent clashes, earning a 1-1 draw earlier this season, and they now have the opportunity to go through an entire league campaign without losing to the Riyadh side for only the second time in their history.

However, their recent form has been lackluster, with Mohammed Al-Abdali’s side losing three of their last four games, failing to score in each of those defeats.

Their most recent match ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Al Quadisiya, and with 41 points, they sit comfortably in mid-table but are out of contention for continental qualification.

After finishing fourth last season, this has been a disappointing campaign for the Wolves, who can’t replicate last year’s 59-point total but will look to end the season strongly.

Al-Taawoun have performed well on the road in 2024-25, securing five wins and three draws in 15 away league matches, though their last two away games have yielded no wins (D1, L1).