Al Nassr visit Al Ittihad in the two giants' first true test of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season. Both teams have started the season superbly, scoring at will and being defensively solid. The only two teams unbeaten after the first three matches, Al Nassr are above Al Ittihad currently only on goal difference (+11 vs +6) and will be looking for a favourable result as they look to usurp the crown from the defending champions.
Having not yet won the league, Cristiano Ronaldo will be keen to make his mark on arguably the biggest game in the Saudi Pro League calendar this season. Jorge Jesus' team have been so dominant early on that they have conceded just one goal across three games, while also being the league's highest scorers so far. Their first game in the AFC Champions League Elite only served to emphasise this good start: they beat Istiklol 5-0.
Laurent Blanc's champions, meanwhile, started the season with plenty of attacking panache before a hamstring injury for star striker Karim Benzema saw the goals dry up -- they come into the game now on the back of two 1-0 wins (one of them in the King's Cup) and a surprise 2-1 loss to Al Wahda in the AFC Champions League Elite. Benzema remains a doubt for this game, so can they rediscover their goalscoring touch ahead of Al Nassr's visit?
Here's everything you need to know about the blockbuster clash:
How to watch:
The match will be available on ESPN Africa across Sub-Saharan Africa and FanCode in India. You can also follow ESPN's live updates.
Note: How to tune in to ESPN -- ESPN: DStv 218, StarTimes 248 and ESPN2: DStv 219, StarTimes 249
Key Details:
Date: Friday, Sept. 26 at 8.00 p.m. CAT (9:00 PM Saudi; 11:30 p.m. IST)
Venue: Al Inma Bank Stadium, Jeddah
Injury news:
Al Ittihad
Karim Benzema, F: hamstring, DOUBT
Al Nassr
Saad Al Nasser, D: knee, OUT
Nawaf Alaqidi, GK: hamstring, OUT
Expected Lineups:
Al Ittihad
GK: Predrag Rajkovic
RB: Jan-Carlo Simic | CB: Saad Al Mosa | CB: Danilo Pereira | LB: Mario Mitaj
CM: N'Golo Kanté | CM: Houssem Aouar | CM: Fabinho
RW: Moussa Diaby | CF: Saleh Al-Shehri | LW: Steven Bergwijn
Al Nassr
GK: Bento
RB: Nawaf Boushal | CB: Mohamed Simakan | CB: Inigo Martinez | LB: Aiman Yahya
DM: Angelo Gabriel | DM: Marcelo Brozovic
RW: Kingsley Coman | AM: Joao Felix | LW: Sadio Mane
CF: Cristiano Ronaldo
Stats:
New signing Joao Felix is currently leading the golden boot race with five goals.
Al Ittihad and Al Nassr FC have not drawn any of their last 7 matches against each other.
Al Nassr have scored a remarkable 21 goals in their last 5 matches. (That number is 12 for Al Ittihad).
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