Mexican Forward Faces Key Match Against Al-Nassr This Weekend

RIAD, Saudi Arabia — Mexican forward Julián Quiñones is set to play a pivotal match this Friday against Al-Nassr, home to Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, in a crucial Saudi Pro League matchup. The game kicks off at 12:00 PM Central Time and has significant implications for the league standings.

Currently, Al-Nassr sits in third place with 57 points, trailing league leaders Al-Ittihad, who have 65 points, and Al-Hilal in second with 61 points. A loss for Al-Nassr would weaken their title aspirations, while Al-Qadsiah, currently fifth in the standings, aims for a spot in European competitions.

Al-Qadsiah is level on points with fourth-place Al-Ahli but trails on goal difference. The top three teams in the Saudi Pro League secure direct entry into the AFC Champions League. However, Al-Qadsiah has another path through the King’s Cup, where they are set to compete against Al-Ittihad in the finals.

The winner of the King’s Cup earns a direct berth in the AFC Champions League. Should Al-Qadsiah finish in the league’s top four, but also win the cup, that slot will be passed down to the next best-ranked team.

Julián Quiñones, who has struggled in recent matches, likely needs to regain his scoring touch to help his team. Though he scored against Al-Fayha last weekend, his team fell 2-1, contributing to a streak of four matches without a goal prior to that.

In contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo has found his scoring form, netting six goals in the last four matches, distancing himself from Quiñones in the league’s top scorers’ chart. Quiñones had previously scored in a 2-1 victory against Al-Nassr earlier this season, also contributing an assist to teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

This weekend’s match not only has title implications for Al-Nassr but also playoff ramifications for Al-Qadsiah, as both teams fight for their respective goals.