Al-Nassr's first football team continued their strong performances and demonstrated their technical prowess, achieving a valuable and tactically astute victory over Al-Riyadh with a clean sheet in their match this evening as part of the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. This victory was not merely three points added to Al-Nassr's tally, but also served to prove a remarkable statistical fact regarding the team's ability to secure victories even in the absence of their captain and star player, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The global presence is a testament to the strength of the system overcoming absences

Tonight's match saw the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, nicknamed "The Madeira Rocket," from the squad, amidst unofficial reports suggesting he requested to be left out. However, his absence did not prevent Al-Nassr from dominating the game. This victory marks Al-Nassr's sixth win this season in matches where Ronaldo was absent, reflecting significant tactical maturity and a strong sense of team spirit. This phenomenon confirms that Al-Nassr's tactical approach has reached an advanced stage of collective play, offering diverse attacking options and not relying on the individual brilliance of any single player, regardless of their technical or historical value.

A spotless record in the absence of the Don

Looking at the statistics, Al-Nassr achieved a perfect record in six matches played without their Portuguese captain, recording impressive scoring rates and keeping clean sheets in most of them. The list of victims in Ronaldo's absence is as follows:

• Local League: Victory over Al-Riyadh with a score of (1-0).
• Continental and regional competitions: A resounding victory over Esteghlal with scores of (5-0) and (4-0).
• Other matches: Al-Zawraa defeated by two clean goals (2-0).
• Against Gao: Two victories with scores of (4-0) and (2-1).

The importance of winning the Roshan League race

This victory takes on added significance in the context of the fierce competition for the Saudi Professional League title, which has garnered global attention. Maintaining a winning streak, especially in the crucial rounds and the second half of the season, is key to remaining in contention for the top spots. Furthermore, overcoming a well-organized team like Al-Riyadh provides the players with a tremendous morale boost, reassuring their fans that Al-Nassr boasts a strong bench and capable players who can compensate for any absences.

Waiting for the leader's return

Despite the team's impressive statistics in his absence, Cristiano Ronaldo's return remains a crucial demand for both the fans and the coaching staff, given his leadership qualities and significant impact in major, decisive matches. Al-Nassr supporters hope that "CR7" will return to lead the team in the upcoming rounds, enabling them to continue their march towards championship titles, supported by a squad that has proven its championship mentality regardless of who is playing.

In a remarkable development within the corridors of the capital club, the management of Al-Nasr Club made an urgent and decisive decision following the end of the team’s match against its counterpart Al-Riyadh, in the match that brought the two teams together as part of the competitions of the twentieth round of the Roshan Professional League, which was hosted by the “Kingdom Arena” stadium.

According to a reporter from Channel 8, administrative directives were issued immediately after the final whistle prohibiting any Al-Nassr player from giving media statements or appearing in the mixed zone after the match. Furthermore, the source highlighted an interesting detail in the original report: that Jesus was also prevented from giving a statement before the match, reflecting the intense atmosphere and focus surrounding this season's league competition.

On the technical front, Al-Nassr secured a crucial victory in the mini-derby, defeating Al-Riyadh 1-0. The lone goal of the match came courtesy of Senegalese star Sadio Mane, whose powerful shot found the back of the net past goalkeeper Milan Borjan, giving his team three valuable points in the title race.

With this victory, the competition at the top of the standings has intensified, as Al-Nasr is now tied with its traditional rival Al-Hilal at the top of the Roshan Professional League standings with 46 points each, which portends an exceptional season and fierce competition until the final rounds.

Implications of the decision and the importance of administrative discipline

Al-Nassr's decision to impose a media blackout stems from the desire of major clubs to shield their players from distractions and media controversy, especially during the crucial stages of the season. With the team tied on points with Al-Hilal, every statement becomes scrutinized, and any slip of the tongue or inaccurate remark could negatively impact team stability or drag the team into unnecessary side issues.

Sports analysts suggest that such decisions are typically aimed at maintaining the players' mental focus and directing their full energy solely towards the pitch. The Saudi Professional League is no longer just a local competition; it has become the focus of global attention, thus increasing the pressure on players, coaches, and management.

The general context of the competition in the Roshan League

The Saudi league is experiencing an unprecedented boom on all fronts, from the quality of professional players to the advanced infrastructure, such as the Kingdom Arena. This development has transformed every match into a championship in itself, with no easy games anymore. Al-Nassr's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh confirms that rival clubs have improved their defensive and organizational capabilities, making the task even more challenging for the top teams.

The fact that both Riyadh giants, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, are tied on 46 points brings to mind the scenarios of historic seasons that were only decided in the final moments. The upcoming rounds are expected to witness a fierce tactical and psychological battle, where mental fortitude and administrative discipline will play a role no less important than technical skill in determining the champion of this season's league.

In a surprising and rapid development of events within Al-Hilal, the club's management made a decisive decision regarding the future of Brazilian professional Marcos Leonardo, just hours before the anticipated match against Al-Ahli in the twentieth round of the Roshan Professional League, which will be held at the "Kingdom Arena" stadium.

Global transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano revealed, via his official account on the "X" platform, behind-the-scenes details of the final hours of the winter transfer window, confirming that intensive and advanced negotiations are underway between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal to finalize the transfer of French star Karim Benzema to the latter's ranks. Romano explained that these negotiations are playing a pivotal role in shaping Al-Hilal's squad for the second half of the season.

Romano indicated that Al-Hilal's management has frozen final approval for Marcos Leonardo's transfer to Atlético Madrid, linking the Brazilian player's departure to the successful signing of Karim Benzema. This move aims to ensure the team doesn't experience a void in attack, especially given the fierce competition for domestic and continental titles.

Al-Hilal's management is striving to strengthen the attacking line with a high-caliber deal involving the former Ballon d'Or winner, in response to the technical staff's wishes and Simeone Inzaghi's recommendations to bolster this sensitive position during the current winter transfer window, to ensure the team continues to deliver its usual performance.

Context and significance of the event in the Saudi League:
These moves are of paramount importance given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, where Al-Hilal seeks to maintain its dominance and widen the gap with its rivals. The transfer of a player of Karim Benzema's caliber between the two Saudi football giants (Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal) is an exceptional event that could shift the balance of power in the league and reflects the remarkable dynamism of the Saudi transfer market, which has become a focus of global attention.

Moreover, the interest of a major European club like Atletico Madrid in signing Marcus Leonardo confirms the quality of the choices attracted by Saudi clubs, and shows that the Roshan League is no longer just a final destination for stars, but a competitive gateway that allows players to return to major European clubs, which enhances the market and marketing value of the Saudi League at the international level.