Al Shabab vs Al Nassr: Al Nassr title hopes is collapsed, Magic Ronaldo to leave Al Nassr 2025

Al Shabab vs Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr FC continued their rough patch in the Saudi Pro League, drawing 2-2 against Al-Shabab in a game filled with drama, stunning goals, and a crucial red card. Despite Ronaldo’s brilliant strike, Stefano Pioli’s side failed to secure all three points, extending their winless streak to three games.

This result puts Al-Nassr’s hopes of securing an AFC Champions League (ACL) spot in jeopardy, making the next few matches absolutely crucial. Let’s break down the game’s key moments, player performances, and what’s next for Ronaldo & Co.

Al Shabab vs Al Nassr: Title hopes collapsed

First Half – Fast Start But Defensive Lapses

The match started with Al-Nassr dominating possession and attack, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane looking sharp. Marcelo Brozovic and Ali Alhassan controlled the midfield, creating some early chances.

38th minute – Penalty Drama! Al-Shabab took the lead after Daniel Podence was fouled in the box by Nawaf Boushal. Abderrazak Hamdallah stepped up and calmly converted the penalty past Bento, giving Al-Shabab a 1-0 lead.
42nd minute – Ronaldo’s Free-Kick Creates Chaos! A dangerous Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick forced a poor clearance from Al-Shabab’s defense, allowing Ayman Yahya to smash in a bullet shot and level the game at 1-1.
45th minute – Ronaldo Scores! Just before halftime, Luis Suarez and Sadio Mane combined before setting up Ronaldo, who finished brilliantly from a tight angle to give Al-Nassr a 2-1 lead at the break.

Second Half – Al-Nassr’s Collapse

Al-Nassr started the second half with momentum but were quickly reduced to 10 men, allowing Al-Shabab to take advantage.

51st minute – Red Card! Mohammed Al-Fatil brought down Podence as he raced through on goal, earning a straight red card. This put Al-Nassr under immense pressure, forcing them to play with 10 men for nearly 40 minutes.
67th minute – Al-Shabab Equalizes! Al-Shabab’s persistence paid off when Mohammed Al Shwirekh nodded in a header from a corner kick, making it 2-2.
80th minute – Ronaldo Substituted! In a shocking decision, Stefano Pioli replaced Cristiano Ronaldo with Jhon Duran, but the Colombian failed to make an impact.

Despite some late saves from Bento, Al-Nassr couldn’t find a winner, leaving Pioli frustrated as his team dropped points once again.

Final Score: Al-Nassr 2-2 Al-Shabab

✅ Goals:

Al-Nassr: Ayman Yahya (42’), Cristiano Ronaldo (45’)
Al-Shabab: Abderrazak Hamdallah (38’ penalty), Mohammed Al Shwirekh (67’)

✅ Key Moments:

Al-Nassr led 2-1 at halftime
Mohammed Al-Fatil red card (51’)
Al-Shabab’s late equalizer (67’)

✅ Al-Nassr’s winless streak extends to three matches

Al Nassr vs Al Shabab: Player Ratings

Al-Nassr Player Ratings

⭐ Bento (7.5/10): Made crucial saves, especially late in the game. No chance with the penalty.

⭐ Cristiano Ronaldo (8/10): Scored a stunning goal and looked sharp before being substituted. A questionable decision by Pioli.

⭐ Sadio Mane (7/10): Assisted Ronaldo’s goal and created chances but faded in the second half.

⭐ Marcelo Brozovic (6.5/10): Controlled the midfield well but his mistake led to Al-Shabab’s equalizer.

⭐ Mohammed Al-Fatil (3/10): His red card changed the game, putting Al-Nassr under heavy pressure.

Al-Shabab Player Ratings

⭐ Daniel Podence (9/10) – MVP: Won the penalty, forced the red card, and created multiple chances. A complete performance.

⭐ Abderrazak Hamdallah (8/10): Calmly converted the penalty and was a constant threat.

⭐ Mohammed Al Shwirekh (8/10): Scored the crucial equalizer with a powerful header.

Key Takeaways From Al Nassr vs Al Shabab

1. Cristiano Ronaldo Can’t Do It Alone

Once again, Cristiano Ronaldo delivered, scoring a brilliant goal and playing a key role in Al-Nassr’s attack. However, his teammates failed to support him, leading to another frustrating result.

2. Pioli’s Tactical Decisions Are Questionable

Taking off Cristiano Ronaldo in the 80th minute was a surprising move, especially when Al-Nassr needed a goal. Jhon Duran failed to make an impact, proving the substitution to be ineffective.

3. Al-Nassr’s Defense Is a Big Concern

Al-Nassr’s defense has been leaking goals and failing to hold leads. Mohammed Al-Fatil’s red card was a game-changing moment, exposing Al-Nassr’s poor discipline.

4. Al-Nassr’s Champions League Qualification at Risk

With 10 matches remaining, Al-Nassr sit fourth in the table, trailing third-placed Al-Qadisiya by three points. They cannot afford to drop more points if they want to secure an AFC Champions League spot.

What’s Next for Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr have a tough schedule coming up:

🏆 March 11: vs Esteghlal (AFC Champions League)
🏆 March 15: vs Al-Kholood (Saudi Pro League)
🏆 March 21: vs Al-Fateh (Saudi Pro League)

With Cristiano Ronaldo’s form and Al-Nassr’s struggles, all eyes will be on Stefano Pioli to turn things around quickly.

Conclusion

Al-Nassr’s struggles continue as they surrender a 2-1 lead against Al-Shabab, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance not enough to secure a win. Mohammed Al-Fatil’s red card proved costly, and Pioli’s controversial decision to substitute Ronaldo raised eyebrows.

With AFC Champions League spots at stake, Al-Nassr must find consistency before it’s too late. Will Pioli turn things around, or is Al-Nassr set for more disappointment?

Let us know your thoughts below! 👇⚽

⌛️ || Full time,@AlNassrFC 2:2 #AlShabab pic.twitter.com/Ek4DGUd35d

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) March 7, 2025

FAQs

1. Why was Cristiano Ronaldo substituted against Al-Shabab?

Stefano Pioli surprisingly substituted Cristiano Ronaldo in the 80th minute for Jhon Duran, a move that failed to make an impact.

2. How did Al-Nassr perform against Al-Shabab?

Al-Nassr started well, led 2-1 at halftime, but collapsed after Mohammed Al-Fatil’s red card, conceding an equalizer in the second half.

3. Can Al-Nassr still qualify for the AFC Champions League?

Al-Nassr sit fourth in the Saudi Pro League, trailing third-placed Al-Qadisiya by three points. They need consistent wins in their next 10 games to qualify.

4. What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr face Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League on March 11, followed by a league match against Al-Kholood on March 15.

5. What was the turning point in the Al-Nassr vs Al-Shabab match?

The 51st-minute red card to Mohammed Al-Fatil was the game-changing moment, allowing Al-Shabab to dominate the second half and secure a 2-2 draw.

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