Portuguese football legend and Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his full readiness to play in his team's upcoming match against Al-Fateh, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This announcement brought reassurance to Al-Nassr fans, who had been eagerly awaiting the return of their star player.

Cristiano Ronaldo posted a recent photo of himself from Al-Nassr's team training session on his official Twitter account (formerly known as X). In the photo, he appears to be performing the exercises with great seriousness and enthusiasm in preparation for the upcoming match. The "Madeira Rocket" accompanied the photo with a brief but telling caption about his mental and physical state: "Very focused," clearly indicating his readiness for the match and his complete concentration on securing the three points.

Cristiano Ronaldo's return is of paramount importance to the Riyadh-based team at this crucial juncture in the season, as "CR7" had missed the last three matches. His absence had sparked widespread concern within Al-Nassr's sporting circles, given the Portuguese star's significant leadership and tactical role on the pitch, and his direct impact on the team's results and attacking performance.

This strong comeback comes just hours before the kickoff of Al-Nassr's match against Al-Fateh, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday. Al-Nassr aims to continue its pursuit of the top spot and compete fiercely for the Saudi Professional League title. The match against Al-Fateh is considered a crucial juncture in the team's journey, requiring a high level of mental and technical readiness to overcome the opponent. This is further bolstered by the presence of a player of Ronaldo's caliber and experience, who has consistently proven decisive in such high-stakes encounters.

From a technical standpoint, Ronaldo's presence represents a tremendous morale boost for his teammates and puts psychological pressure on opposing defenses. Saudi and international fans of the Saudi Professional League eagerly await the return of the all-time top scorer to his goal-scoring form, especially since the league has become a global attraction thanks to its draw in some of the world's biggest football stars, raising the level of competition and excitement in every round.

It is worth noting that Al-Nasr's coaching staff has been working intensively over the past few days to prepare Ronaldo and ensure his full recovery, so that he will be fit to lead the team's attack in this crucial round, which promises a strong and exciting match that football fans are waiting for.

All eyes in Saudi football are on the highly anticipated clash between Al-Nassr and Al-Fateh, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. As part of intensive preparations for this encounter, Al-Nassr's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, has made crucial decisions regarding the squad that will travel to face Al-Fateh, while the "Global" team aims to continue its winning streak and close the gap on the league leaders.

Regarding tactical decisions, coach Jorge Jesus decided to exclude Iraqi professional Haider Abdulkarim from the final squad called up for the match to be held at Al-Fateh Stadium. This decision was based purely on the Portuguese coach's tactical vision, as he preferred to rely on alternative tactical options that suit the opponent's nature and playing style. The squad includes all other foreign players in the team, reflecting the coaching staff's desire to field their strongest lineup to secure the three points and not let any opportunity slip away.

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Fateh match is of paramount importance in the title race this season. Al-Nassr enters the game with victory as their sole objective, aiming to close the gap on their arch-rivals, Al-Hilal, who currently sit atop the Roshan Professional League standings. Based on the current points tally, the narrow margin between the two teams – a mere single point – makes any slip-up unacceptable at this crucial stage of the league, placing added pressure on Jesus's squad to perform at their best to maintain their title hopes.

Historically and technically, matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Fateh have always been highly competitive and exciting. Al-Fateh is a team with a strong character, especially when playing at home in Al-Ahsa in front of their fans. Having already tasted victory by winning the league title in a previous season, Al-Fateh has the ability to upset the big teams, a fact well known to Al-Nassr's coaching staff. This necessitates that the players maintain a high level of mental and physical focus throughout the match to overcome this stubborn opponent.

This meeting comes amidst a broader context of unprecedented qualitative development and fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, thanks to significant support and the attraction of elite international football stars. This has raised the league's market and technical value, making every match feel like an early final. This evolution necessitates that coaches, including Jesus, employ highly intelligent tactical approaches and flexibility in selecting the most suitable lineup for each stage of the season.

In conclusion, Al-Nassr fans are placing great faith in coach Jorge Jesus's tactical acumen in managing such crucial matches and his ability to utilize the available stars to unlock the opponent's defense. The exclusion of a player of Haider Abdulkarim's caliber may be part of a player rotation strategy or a specific tactic for this match, but the ultimate goal remains the same: to return with all three points to continue the march towards the league title and bring joy to Al-Nassr's trophy-hungry fans.

Algerian international Riyad Mahrez continued his dazzling performances for Al-Ahli, reaffirming his high level of skill as one of the team's key players this season. This brilliance was clearly on display in the fiery encounter between Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, where Mahrez made his mark by scoring one goal and assisting another, leading his team in one of the most exciting matches of the season.

A fiery first half and Al-Ahly's dominance

Al-Shabab Stadium in Riyadh witnessed an exceptional night of football, as the first half of the "classic" match was marked by a rare goal-scoring spree, ending with Al-Ahli leading 4-2. Amidst this attacking onslaught, Riyad Mahrez was the maestro who orchestrated the tempo of the game, utilizing his vast experience in European leagues to cope with the pressure of big matches. He established himself as an extraordinary star and directly contributed to tipping the scales in his team's favor before halftime.

The language of numbers: Mahrez shines with Al Ahly

Mahrez's brilliance in this match was no fluke; it was the continuation of a series of strong performances since joining Al Ahly. According to official statistics for Mahrez's appearances with Al Ahly this season across all competitions, his numbers are as follows:

• Number of matches: 28 matches.
• Total goal contributions: 16 contributions.
• Goals scored: 6 goals.
• Assists: 10 passes.

These figures reflect the pivotal role played by "Pride of the Arabs" in coach Matthias Jiesle's attacking system, as he is considered the most influential player in the final third of the field, whether through direct finishing or creating opportunities for his teammates.

From Manchester to Jeddah... added artistic value

In the broader context, Riyad Mahrez's presence in the Saudi Professional League represents a significant qualitative addition to the competition, given his illustrious career, most notably his historic treble with Manchester City before his arrival in Jeddah. The transfer of a player of his stature, generating such media and fan attention, was not merely a marketing ploy, but a tremendous boost to Al-Ahli's squad. He brought with him a winning mentality and the ability to deliver decisive performances in crucial moments, as was clearly demonstrated in the match against Al-Shabab.

Mahrez's impact on Al Ahly's ambitions

Mahrez's contributions take on added importance at this stage of the season, as Al Ahli strives to solidify its position at the top of the table, secure an Asian Champions League spot, and compete strongly on all fronts. Having a player with individual brilliance, such as dribbling skills, accurate shooting, and intelligent passing, gives the team a clear advantage over direct rivals. With the league entering its crucial stages, Al Ahli fans are placing great hope in Mahrez's magic to continue accumulating points and fulfilling the aspirations of the passionate Al Ahli supporters.