Ronaldo's Al Nassr Stumble: Al Ittihad Ends Defending Champions’ Winning Run

Al Ittihad handed Al Nassr their first Saudi Pro League defeat of the season, winning 2–1 on Saturday. The loss ended Al Nassr’s opening four-game winning streak and dropped the defending champions to second place, three points behind league leaders Al Hilal. Midfielder Ângelo Gabriel scored Al Nassr’s sole goal.

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New Al Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou emphasized the team’s character despite the setback. He noted that Al Nassr created chances early and praised the squad for showing “very, very strong character” after a season in which they previously demonstrated resilience. Postecoglou framed the defeat as an opportunity to improve rather than a crisis.

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The match also produced a light-hearted moment when Ronaldo was caught peeking at a tactical note on Al Ittihad midfielder Danilo Pereira’s shirt, prompting a shared smile that Al Ittihad later posted on X with the caption “Cheating and still losing!” Ronaldo has scored two goals in four league appearances this season and has a contract with Al Nassr that runs until June 2027.

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• “It happens that you can lose a game. Now we have to prove in the next game why we are the defending champions.” — Gabriel

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