Al-Nassr's first football team continued its constant pressure on its traditional rival Al-Hilal, the leader, after achieving a valuable and well-deserved victory over its host Al-Fateh with a score of 2-0, in the exciting match that brought them together on Saturday evening, on the grounds of the first financing field in Al-Ahsa city, at the conclusion of the twenty-second round of the Saudi Professional League competition.

The legend's return and its impact on the team

This match witnessed a significant event: the return of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo to the starting lineup after missing the team's last two matches against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad. The "Madeira Rocket" wasted no time in making his mark, opening the scoring early in the 18th minute and giving his teammates a huge morale boost. His teammate Ayman Yahya then secured the victory with a second goal in the 78th minute, confirming Al-Nassr's determination to compete until the very end.

First half details and missed opportunities

From the opening whistle, Al-Nassr launched a massive attack, creating an early chance to score when Ronaldo received a cross and volleyed it wide in the first minute. Al-Fateh responded quickly with a powerful shot from Moroccan star Mourad Batna that went just past the post in the seventh minute. Frenchman Kingsley Coman then squandered a golden opportunity for Al-Nassr, inexplicably firing the ball over the bar in the 11th minute. From a well-coordinated attack reflecting Al-Nassr's dominance, Senegalese Sadio Mane delivered a perfect cross that found Ronaldo, who expertly slotted it past Spanish goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. Al-Nassr nearly doubled their lead with a header from the Spanish defender that went narrowly wide, while Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto made a brilliant save from a Batna free-kick. The crossbar then denied Argentinian Matias Vargas an equalizer for Al-Fateh before halftime.

The excitement of the second half and the decisive points

The excitement and competitiveness continued into the second half, with Al-Fateh attempting to get back into the game and pressing their visitors. However, their attacks lacked the final touch. Conversely, Al-Nassr came close to scoring, but the post denied Portuguese player João Félix. In the 76th minute, Pinto made a brilliant save from a powerful shot by Batna, but Al-Nassr quickly responded through substitute Ayman Yahya, who received a cross, controlled it, and fired a powerful shot into the net to score their second goal. Before the end, Pacheco prevented a certain third goal by saving a dangerous shot from Ronaldo.

The two teams' positions in the standings

With this crucial victory, Al-Nassr raised their points tally to 52, narrowing the gap to just one point behind the league leaders and intensifying the competition in the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Al-Fateh's points remained at 24, leaving them in tenth place. This presents the team with a difficult challenge to improve their position in the safe zone and avoid relegation amidst the fierce competition witnessed in the Roshan League this season.

A pall of sadness and disappointment hung over Al-Kholoud FC's camp following their unexpected 2-1 defeat to Al-Najma FC on Saturday evening in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. The English manager, Des Buckingham, was visibly affected, stating that the scoreline did not reflect the flow of the game but rather the harsh realities of football.

In the post-match press conference, Buckingham offered a technical analysis of the reasons for the setback, emphasizing that his team paid a heavy price for squandering easy scoring opportunities. The English coach said, "We went into the match fully aware that it wouldn't be a walk in the park. Al-Najma is a completely different team than it was at the start of the season, especially after the radical changes to the coaching staff and the impactful winter signings that have given them greater strength and aggression.".

Buckingham added, invoking one of the oldest rules of the beautiful game: "We performed well in terms of possession and building attacks, and we created many clear scoring opportunities, but in football, the law is unforgiving: (if you don't score, you concede). We were punished today because we did not translate our relative advantage into goals that would decide the match early.".

In the broader context of the competition, this match marks a turning point in the Roshan League this season. Al-Najma secured their first-ever victory in this edition, breaking a streak of bad luck that had plagued them throughout the previous rounds, during which they suffered 15 losses and managed only 5 draws. This win not only earns Al-Najma three points but also reshuffles the cards in the relegation battle, sending a message to the other teams that the second half of the season will be a different story for the bottom-ranked sides.

This result reflects the significant development and intense competitiveness that the Saudi Professional League has become, where the technical gap between the top, middle, and bottom teams is no longer vast, especially given the substantial support and high-quality signings made by the clubs. This loss presents Al-Kholoud's coaching staff with real challenges in the upcoming rounds, as Buckingham must find urgent solutions to improve attacking efficiency to ensure they don't drop points that could prove crucial in determining the team's final position at the end of the season.

Winter sports enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world are turning their attention to northern Italy, where Saudi alpine skiing star Faiq Abdi is preparing for a new and exciting challenge at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The Saudi champion is gearing up to compete in the slalom event scheduled for Monday, a pivotal moment that reflects the growing Saudi presence on the world stage.

Stelvio Racecourse Challenge

This participation is particularly challenging given that the competitions are being held on the renowned Stelvio Ski Resort, considered one of the most complex and difficult ski runs in the world, demanding exceptional technical skills and mental focus. Through this appearance, Abedi aims to deliver a performance worthy of Saudi Arabian sports and to compete against the world's elite skiers in a highly competitive environment.

Giant skiing results and official support

Faiq Abdi had concluded his participation in the Giant Slalom competition held on Saturday at the same course, recording a total time of 2:53.41 minutes after successfully completing both runs. The race witnessed fierce competition with the participation of 81 of the sport's top stars from around the world. Abdi received significant moral support from His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and head of the Saudi delegation, who was present at the event, underscoring the sports leadership's commitment to supporting and empowering athletes in major competitions.

From Beijing 2022 to Milan 2026: The Journey of Evolution

Abdi's current participation cannot be viewed in isolation from his previous historic achievement; he etched his name in gold as the first Saudi athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics during the "Beijing 2022" edition. His return today in "Milan-Cortina 2026" represents conclusive proof of his sustainability and development, as he has moved from a mere honorary first participation to a stage of establishing himself and gaining cumulative experience in sports that require many years of practice to reach a professional level.

Winter sports are at the heart of Vision 2030

This participation further solidifies Saudi Arabia's position as a rising player in winter sports, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030. As the Kingdom prepares to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at the global destination "Trogina" within the NEOM project, it is working diligently to build a strong foundation of professional athletes. Faiq Abdi serves as an inspiring role model for the next generation and sends a clear message to the world that Saudi ambition knows no bounds, regardless of terrain or climate, and that the Kingdom is capable of excelling in various sporting arenas.