Al-Riyadh vs Al-Nassr: H2H, Results, Stats & Highlights
When Al-Nassr visit Al-Riyadh, it’s less a match than a statement. The reigning league leaders, powered by Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless scoring, have never lost to their city rivals across six Saudi Pro League encounters. The gap shows in every metric — goals, possession, league position. But there’s always something new to watch for.
Recent Result: Al Nassr 2-1 Al Riyadh (12 Apr 2025) · H2H Wins: Al Nassr 4, Al Riyadh 0 (6 games) · Al-Nassr Position: 1st in Saudi Pro League · Al-Riyadh Position: 16th in Saudi Pro League
Quick snapshot
- Official reason for Ronaldo’s absence on 2 Feb 2026 — no club statement released
- Whether Ronaldo participated in any training sessions during that period
- Al-Riyadh’s specific February 2026 transfer activity affecting squad depth
- 2 Feb 2026: Al-Nassr 1-0 win (Mane 40′) without Ronaldo
- 11 Apr 2026: Ronaldo scores vs Al Akhdoud
- 14 consecutive wins — club record in Saudi Pro League
- Al-Nassr lead SPL by 5 points over Al Hilal with 6 matches left
- Ronaldo’s Pro League goal milestone approaches
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| League Positions | Al-Nassr 1st, Al-Riyadh 16th |
| Last Match | Al Nassr 2-1 (12 Apr 2025) |
| H2H Record | Al Nassr 4 wins, 2 draws (6 games) |
| Ronaldo SPL Goals (2025/26) | 24 in 25 apps (SPL official) |
| Ronaldo SPL Appearances | 100 (beIN Sports) |
| Al-Nassr Consecutive Wins | 14 (club record) |
Is Al-Nassr vs Al Riyadh 12 April?
Yes — Al-Nassr defeated Al-Riyadh 2-1 on 12 April 2026 in Saudi Pro League action, though the most recent meeting occurred on 2 April 2026. The February match saw Al-Nassr win 1-0 at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium in Riyadh, with Sadio Mane converting in the 40th minute. Match statistics heavily favored the visitors: Al-Nassr registered 64% possession, 1.63 expected goals (xG), and 13 shots compared to Al-Riyadh’s 36% possession, 0.57 xG, and 5 shots. Ronaldo did not feature in that fixture, yet Al-Nassr secured all three points.
Match Result
The 2-1 result on 12 April 2026 was one of the tighter encounters between these clubs, with Al-Nassr twice coming from behind before clinching victory. By contrast, the April 2026 fixture ended 1-0 — a more comfortable margin reflecting Al-Nassr’s dominance despite missing their star forward. Both results underscore the same pattern: Al-Riyadh compete hard but ultimately fall short against superior opposition.
Ronaldo’s absence barely dented Al-Nassr’s performance — the substitute squad depth delivered a controlled 1-0 win with 64% ball retention.
Key Moments
Mane’s 40th-minute volley proved decisive on 2 February 2026, arriving just before halftime to settle the contest. The Senegalese forward capitalized on a defensive lapse to deliver the match-winner — his most significant contribution during Ronaldo’s absence. Earlier that season, Ronaldo had continued his scoring pace that places him among the league’s top performers despite age 40 approaching.
Why is Ronaldo not playing against Al Riyadh?
Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the matchday squad for Al-Nassr’s 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh on 2 April 2026, but the club never issued an official statement explaining his absence. The decision reportedly came from Ronaldo himself, who opted to skip the fixture as part of his managed workload strategy. Without confirmation from Al-Nassr’s medical staff or communications team, the exact reason remains private between player and club.
Ronaldo’s Decision
Ronaldo has historically prioritized fitness management during his tenure at Al-Nassr, skipping matches that offer less competitive value while preserving his body for high-stakes encounters. His 100th Saudi Pro League appearance came on 4 February 2026 against Al-Najma, where he marked the milestone with a brace — suggesting the absence versus Al-Riyadh was pre-planned rather than injury-related. The Portuguese forward had endured a hamstring concern earlier in the campaign, making selective rest part of his broader recovery protocol.
Impact on Match
Al-Nassr suffered no visible drop in quality without their talisman. Mane stepped into the scoring void, while the midfield controlled proceedings with 64% possession. The underlying data — 1.63 xG created by the visitors — indicates Al-Nassr dominated regardless of Ronaldo’s absence. For Al-Riyadh, it represented a missed opportunity: facing the league leaders without their most intimidating attacker, yet still failing to register a goal or claim a single point.
Ronaldo’s selective absences highlight the growing gap between Saudi Pro League contenders and the rest of the table — even without their marquee player, Al-Nassr remain clinical.
What is Al-Nassr’s biggest win?
Al-Nassr’s most impressive feat in recent months isn’t a single result but a sustained winning sequence: 14 consecutive Saudi Pro League victories, a club record that surpassed the previous benchmark set during the 2013-2014 season. The streak includes dominant performances against playoff-positioned clubs and relegation battlers alike, with Ronaldo at the center of most celebrations.
Record Games
The 14-win run surpassed the previous club record of 13 straight victories, with Opta statistics confirming the achievement matched historical benchmarks from Al-Nassr’s earlier dominant period. The run culminated in a 2-0 win over Al Akhdoud on 11 April 2026, where Ronaldo scored — a strike that reinforced his status as professional football’s all-time leading scorer. Earlier in the sequence, a 5-2 victory over Al-Najma featured Ronaldo’s brace, his 23rd goal of the league campaign, and his 100th Saudi Pro League appearance.
Against Al Riyadh
While neither the 2-1 April 2026 result nor the 1-0 April 2026 victory ranks among Al-Nassr’s most emphatic, both matches extended a broader dominance over Al-Riyadh. Across six recorded league meetings, Al-Riyadh have never won — managing only two draws while conceding 16 goals. The biggest margin came in matches where Ronaldo featured prominently, suggesting his presence historically inflates the goal difference even further.
Who is richer, Al Hilal or Al-Nassr?
As of early 2026, Al-Nassr hold a 5-point lead over Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League standings — 70 points to Al Hilal’s 65 — with six matches remaining. In terms of squad valuation, both clubs rank among the top five highest-valued in the league, fueled by marquee signings and substantial broadcasting revenue from the Saudi sovereign wealth investment driving the competition’s growth.
Club Valuations
Al-Nassr’s valuation benefits directly from Ronaldo’s presence: his commercial appeal, social media reach, and performance metrics have elevated the club’s global profile since his 2023 arrival. Beyond the Portuguese star, the squad features Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, and Otavio — all acquired at significant expense. Al Hilal counters with Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and a roster assembled through comparable spending. Both clubs operate with budgets that dwarf the league’s remaining 14 teams.
With six matches left, Al-Nassr’s 5-point buffer over Al Hilal appears comfortable — but their away form (12 wins away from home) suggests the title race may tighten if they slip at home against lower-table clubs.
Saudi Pro League Top 5
The top five Saudi Pro League clubs — Al-Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Faisaly — account for the overwhelming majority of the league’s wage bill and transfer spending. Bottom-table clubs like Al-Riyadh operate on a fraction of that budget, explaining the gap between the two sides. The financial stratification has created a two-tier league structure despite competitive balance efforts from league organizers.
What are Al Riyadh vs Al Nassr highlights and stats?
Head-to-head statistics paint an asymmetric picture: Al-Nassr have won 4 of 6 recorded Saudi Pro League encounters against Al-Riyadh, with two additional draws. The aggregate score across those matches exceeds 16 goals for Al-Nassr against fewer than 5 for Al-Riyadh. Expected goals data from the most recent fixture shows Al-Nassr creating nearly three times the scoring chances their opponents managed.
H2H History
The earliest recorded encounter dates to 2011, with additional meetings clustered in the 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 seasons following Al-Riyadh’s promotion to the top flight. Al-Nassr won three of those four historical matches, with one draw — zero victories for Al-Riyadh. The most recent fixture (2 February 2026) extended the streak to six consecutive matches without an Al-Riyadh win. Across all competitions tracked by sports data aggregators, Al-Nassr average 2.67 goals per meeting versus Al-Riyadh’s 0.83.
Al-Riyadh have spent more than most mid-table Saudi Pro League clubs in recent seasons, yet against their city rivals, money buys very little — the gulf in quality transcends squad valuation.
Live Scores and Standings
Live tracking platforms confirm Al-Nassr’s 1st-place position as of April 2026, while Al-Riyadh occupy 16th — inside the relegation zone with 14 rounds remaining. The 15-position gap represents the widest margin between any two clubs sharing a city in the Saudi Pro League. For context: Al-Nassr’s 70 points nearly triple Al-Riyadh’s point total across the same number of matches.
The documented encounters reveal a consistent pattern: Al-Riyadh occasionally compete credibly (the 2-2 draw) but cannot sustain that level against a full-strength or even depleted Al-Nassr squad.
| Date | Result | Key Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 2-2 Draw | First competitive draw between clubs | BetExplorer |
| 12 Apr 2025 | 2-1 Al-Nassr win | Ronaldo featured | Flashscore |
| 2 Feb 2026 | 1-0 Al-Nassr win | Mane 40′, Ronaldo absent | Sofascore |
Timeline of Recent Matches
The rivalry’s recent history spans two seasons, with Al-Nassr winning three of four tracked matches and sharing the spoils once. February 2026 delivered the tightest result, yet the outcome matched the broader trend.
- 2023-2024 season: 2-2 draw at Al-Riyadh home venue
- 12 April 2026: Al-Nassr 2-1 Al-Riyadh — Ronaldo scored
- 2 April 2026: Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Riyadh — Mane winner, Ronaldo absent
- 4 April 2026: Al-Nassr 5-2 Al-Najma — Ronaldo brace, 100th appearance
- 11 April 2026: Al-Nassr 2-0 Al Akhdoud — Ronaldo goal
Confirmed vs Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Al-Nassr unbeaten vs Al-Riyadh in all 6 H2H meetings (verified by Flashscore, Sofascore)
- Ronaldo 24 goals in 2025/26 Saudi Pro League (official SPL record)
- Sadio Mane scored winning goal 2 Feb 2026, 40th minute
- 14 consecutive wins = club record
- Al-Nassr 70 points, 5 ahead of Al Hilal
What’s unclear
- Official reason for Ronaldo’s 2 Feb 2026 absence — no club statement
- Whether Ronaldo trained normally during the gap before Al-Najma match
- Al-Riyadh’s specific February 2026 transfer activity affecting squad depth
- Exact total of Ronaldo’s career goals as of February 2026
“Ronaldo has scored 97 Pro League goals to date, at least 41 more than any other player since his debut.”
“By defeating Al Akhdoud, Al Nassr secured their 14th consecutive win in the Saudi Pro League, marking the best winning streak in the club’s league history.”
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youtube.com, aiscore.com, worldsoccertalk.com, soccerpunter.com, messivsronaldo.app
Al-Nassr’s impressive unbeaten streak in six Saudi Pro League clashes includes the hard-fought 1-0 Mané goal victory at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium without Ronaldo.
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh on 12 April?
Al-Nassr won 2-1 on 12 April 2026, with Ronaldo featuring in the match. The result followed a pattern of Al-Nassr dominance in this fixture, though the margin was closer than subsequent meetings.
What is the head-to-head record?
Al-Nassr have won 4 of 6 recorded Saudi Pro League encounters against Al-Riyadh, with two draws. Al-Riyadh have never defeated their city rivals in documented top-flight matches.
Did Ronaldo play in the recent Al Riyadh vs Al Nassr match?
No. Ronaldo was absent for the 1-0 Al-Nassr victory on 2 April 2026. Sadio Mane scored the decisive goal in the 40th minute while Ronaldo watched from the sidelines.
What are the current standings for Al Nassr and Al Riyadh?
Al-Nassr sit 1st in the Saudi Pro League with 70 points, five clear of Al Hilal. Al-Riyadh occupy 16th place — inside the relegation zone — with significantly fewer points accumulated across the same fixtures.
When is the next Al Riyadh vs Al Nassr match?
Specific dates for future meetings beyond the 2 February 2026 fixture were not confirmed at the time of writing. League scheduling typically releases remaining match dates in monthly installments.
What are key stats from Al Riyadh vs Al Nassr games?
Al-Nassr average 2.67 goals per meeting versus Al-Riyadh, compared to 0.83 for Al-Riyadh. In the most recent fixture, Al-Nassr held 64% possession and created 1.63 expected goals versus 0.57 for their opponents.
Who won most H2H matches between Al Riyadh and Al Nassr?
Al-Nassr have won 4 of 6 tracked Saudi Pro League encounters. Al-Riyadh’s points came via two 2-2 draws during the 2023-2024 season and another season.
For fans tracking the Saudi Pro League title race, the evidence is unambiguous: Al-Nassr’s winning streak and Ronaldo’s scoring record give them a commanding lead that Al-Riyadh simply cannot close. The next chapter of this city rivalry will either extend the streak or mark a rare Al-Riyadh fightback — but history strongly favors the visitors.
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