In an incident that raised many questions in Saudi sports circles, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Al-Nassr, was absent from the post-match press conference following the fiery derby against Al-Ittihad. This absence came after the match between the two teams at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, part of the eleventh round of the Saudi Professional League, marking his second consecutive absence from official media appearances.

Sources revealed that the main reason behind Jorge Jesus's absence from the pre-match press conference for the Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad game was an administrative decision by the club's management, coupled with the coach's show of solidarity with the team's captain, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. This solidarity serves as a clear message expressing dissatisfaction with the team's performance during the last winter transfer window and the accompanying challenges that impacted the strategy for strengthening the squad to compete for domestic and continental titles.

In terms of both result and performance, Al-Nassr successfully overcame Al-Ittihad with distinction, securing a 2-0 victory. The match was characterized by technical and tactical dominance, reflecting the team's readiness for this major encounter, considered one of the most important matches of the season in Saudi football, given the intense historical and popular rivalry between the two clubs.

Matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are of paramount importance not only locally but also regionally, attracting widespread attention due to the caliber of the stars on both teams. This victory strengthens Al-Nassr's position in the standings, bringing their points tally to 49 in the Roshan Professional League this season and marking their second consecutive win. This provides a significant morale boost for the players and coaching staff as they continue their pursuit of the top spot.

It is worth noting that press conferences in the Roshan League have gained unprecedented global attention, in light of the qualitative shift that Saudi sports are witnessing, which makes the absence of a figure of the stature of coach Jesus an event that requires pausing to consider and analyzing its implications regarding the relationship between the technical management and the circumstances surrounding the team.

The top match of the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, witnessed a remarkable event off the pitch that was no less intriguing than what transpired on it. In a move that surprised the media and fans, Al-Nassr players collectively refused to give any press or television interviews after the match, despite securing a valuable and well-deserved victory in the Saudi Clasico.

A reporter from "Emanat Thamania" revealed the behind-the-scenes events leading up to this media blackout, confirming that Al-Nassr's management issued strict instructions to the players in the hours before kickoff, prohibiting them from speaking to the media after the match. The source explained that this decision was a clear message of solidarity and an explicit protest from the Al-Nassr organization against the recent events and pressures faced by the team's captain, the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, reflecting the strong unity within the "Global" team's dressing room.

On the technical level, Al-Nasr succeeded in winning the Clasico match in its favor with a clean sheet, as the Senegalese star Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a penalty kick that he executed brilliantly, before the young Brazilian player Angelo Gabriel strengthened his team’s superiority by scoring the second goal, confirming Al-Nasr’s superiority in this major public match.

This victory is doubly significant as it comes within the context of the fierce historical rivalry between the two clubs. Matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are a prestigious showcase for Saudi football and attract widespread regional and international attention. Furthermore, the win strengthens Al-Nassr's position in the league standings and provides the team with a tremendous morale boost as they continue their pursuit of titles, especially since this is their second consecutive victory in the absence of their captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, following their previous win against Al-Riyadh in the last round.

This cohesive performance demonstrates the ability of the coaching staff and players to cope with significant absences and maintain the team's upward trajectory, while fans eagerly await Ronaldo's return to action and the overcoming of the current crisis that has cast a shadow over the media coverage of the match.

Jordanian refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija settled the widespread controversy surrounding the top match of the 21st round of the Roshan Professional League, which pitted Al-Nassr against Al-Ittihad at Al-Nassr Park and ended with a valuable 2-0 victory for Al-Nassr. The match witnessed a refereeing decision that sparked much debate in sporting circles and on social media platforms, concerning the validity of the penalty awarded to the home team.

In an exclusive statement to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, Abu Khadija definitively confirmed the referee's decision, saying: "Yes, it was a correct penalty kick for Al-Nasr. The defender's hand position was unnatural, and there was a clear enlargement of his body, which warranted the penalty." This clarification puts an end to the speculation that questioned the legitimacy of the decision, which significantly influenced the outcome of the match.

Technically, Al-Nassr dominated the derby, securing a 2-0 victory. Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring, before Senegalese star Sadio Mane doubled the lead, confirming Al-Nassr's superiority in this crucial encounter.

The importance of El Clásico and its impact on the title race

This match holds special significance beyond just the three points; encounters between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are among the most prominent in Saudi and Arab football, always characterized by intense rivalry and huge fan excitement. A victory in such a match provides the team with a tremendous morale boost for the remainder of the league campaign, especially given the fierce competition this season.

In terms of the league standings, this victory has intensified the competition for the Roshan Professional League title, as Al-Nassr's points tally rose to 49, strengthening their hold on second place and narrowing the gap with league leaders Al-Hilal to just one point. This close competition suggests a very exciting end to the season, where there is no room for error in the remaining rounds.

It is worth noting that refereeing decisions in major matches are always under intense scrutiny, given the sensitivity of these encounters and their direct impact on the course of the tournament. The opinions of refereeing experts are crucial in educating the public and clarifying controversial situations according to the Laws of the Game as approved by FIFA.