Al-Nassr vs. Al Ettifaq: Saudi Pro League Clash Prepares for Showdown

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Al-Nassr will host Al Ettifaq in a pivotal Saudi Pro League match on Friday, February 21, 2025, at King Saud University Stadium. Both teams are looking for crucial points in their respective league campaigns, with Al-Nassr aiming to maintain their strong performance while Al Ettifaq seeks to bounce back from recent setbacks.

Currently third in the league with 44 points, Al-Nassr has been in impressive form, winning five consecutive matches since their last draw against Al-Taawoun on January 17. Following victories against Al Khaleej, Al Fateh, Al Raed, Al Fayha, and a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Al-Ahli, the team hopes to extend their unbeaten league run to eight matches.

Al-Nassr’s offense has been prolific, scoring 18 goals in their last seven league matches, bringing their season total to 43. However, they faced a stumbling block in their last outing, battling to a goalless draw against Persepolis in the AFC Champions League, breaking a six-match winning streak across all competitions. Coach Stefano Pioli is optimistic that his team can rediscover their offensive rhythm against Al Ettifaq.

“We’ve been working hard to maintain our momentum, and I believe we can deliver another strong performance on Friday,” Pioli said in a pre-match conference.

On the opposite end, Al Ettifaq comes off a disappointing 2-1 defeat to bottom-placed Al Fateh, marking their first league loss under new management. Despite this setback, the team has climbed to 10th place with 25 points, largely thanks to an impressive away record that has seen them collect 19 points from 30. Coach Stephen Al-Shehri has praised his players’ resilience and is confident they can compete against Al-Nassr.

“Every match is an opportunity for us to grow, and we’ve shown that we can stand firm even under pressure,” Al-Shehri stated. “We know the challenge ahead, but we relish it.”

In terms of player availability, Al-Nassr will miss former RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan due to suspension. Midfielder Otavio will also not play after suffering an injury in the previous match against Al-Ahli. New signing Jhon Duran, who has made an immediate impact with two braces in his first two league appearances, is expected to lead the attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently leads the league’s scoring chart with 16 goals.

Al Ettifaq has its own injury concerns. Forward Moussa Dembélé is sidelined with an Achilles injury. Defender Jack Hendry is likely to miss a fourth consecutive game, while Marwan Al-Haidari, returning from injury, may play a role off the bench.

The anticipated lineups for the match look as follows:

Al-Nassr: Bento; Al Ghanam, Al Fatil, Laporte, Al Najdi; Yahya, Brozovic, Al Khaibari, Mane; Duran, Ronaldo.

Al Ettifaq: Rodak; Abdulrahman, Al Khateeb, Madu, Otaibi; Ali, Medran; Costa, Wijnaldum, Vitinho; Ekambi.

Al-Nassr enters this match as the clear favorite due to their recent form and historical dominance over Al Ettifaq, winning the last two encounters, including a 3-0 victory at Al Awwal Park earlier this season. However, Al Ettifaq’s strong away performance this season could challenge the hosts.

The match kicks off at 8 p.m. local time, translating to 12 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States.