Al Nassr vs Abha: Live score, updates, and commentary as Ronaldo and co. chase vital win

Al Nassr must-win clash

Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo are in must-win territory in their chase for the Saudi Pro League title when they welcome Abha on Saturday. A victory by league leaders Al Ittihad has left Al Nassr needing a win of their own against Abha to stay within a point of their rivals with nine matches remaining in the season after this weekend.

Abha battling relegation

Abha are battling relegation and will be content with any point from this contest after looking significantly inferior in midweek, allowing Al Nassr a goal within the first minute of play. They’ll need a stronger start to have any hope in this match.

Live updates

Sporting News is following the Al Nassr vs Abha match live and providing live score updates, commentary.

Goals: ABHA — Adam (Bguir) — 26th min.

65th min.: SUB Al Nassr. Al-Khaibari is off.

60th min.: The Al Nassr attacking impetus is fizzling out in recent minutes.

53rd min.: Chance Al Nassr! The ball ends up at the feet of Ghareeb on the left side and his point-blank shot is saved by Abha goalkeeper Devis Epassy. The Cameroonian ‘keeper should great reflexes. There’s a bit more urgency in Al Nassr’s play.

46th min.: Chance Al Nassr! Just seconds after kicking off the second half Talisca unleashes a flying scissors kick which bounces just wide of the left post. That was close from Al Nassr to start the half.

Halftime: It was a disappointing first half from Al Nassr and they didn’t create nearly enough. Cristiano Ronaldo has been slow and there’s generally little teamwork or combination in attack with Ghareeb, Ronaldo, and Talisca all trying to do things on their own. There’s little chemistry for the men in yellow.

Meanwhile, Abha have shown solid teamwork. They’re defending as a team — including the wingers — and they got a goal from the promising Fattah Adam, who refused to celebrate given he scored against his parent club. The Abha front four can cause issues in transition. In fact, it looks more likely that Abha go 2-0 up than Al Nassr equalise.

45th min.: Five minutes of stoppage time. It’s been orderly defending by Abha. They’re looking to take a lead into the lockers.

37th min.: Chance Al Nassr! It’s Ghareeb who fires from distance and it’s deflected for a corner. But the Al Nassr chances are not making the goalkeeper work so far.

33rd min.: Yellow to Al Nassr’s Al-Khaibari. The defensive midfielder hacks down Abha centre-forward Felipe Caicedo who was on the break. A deserved caution, and Abha are showing they are dangerous on the break. Al Nassr are just not inspired in attack.

26th min.: Goal for Abha! It’s Abdulfattah Adam, who’s on loan from Al Nassr, to score it. He sends a shot into the upper 90 that can’t be stopped.

18th min.: Ronaldo denied again! What another great play by Natiq with the sliding tackle in the box to stop Ronaldo who was 1-on-1 against the Abha goalkeeper.

14th min.: Excellent defensive play by Iraq international centre-back Natiq, who intercepts Cristiano Ronaldo in the Abha box. Clean, classing defensive intetrvention.

7th min.: Disallowed goal Abha! A set piece on goal is parried by Al Nassr’s goalkeeper right at Abha centre-back Attouchi who bundles it home off the post.

But the VAR intervenes and Attouchi was offside when the free kick was taken. Goal erased. Good decision by the officials.

1st min.: We’re off. Abha with early possession in their maroon away jerseys.

2 mins from kickoff: Teams are out on the field and we’re just about set to go.

30 mins from kickoff: It’ll be Felipe Caicedo (Abha) attempting to outduel Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) in this league match.

Squad rotation and streaming info

More squad rotation from Rudi Garcia, who kept Talisca and Jaloliddin Masharipov on the bench and gave Luiz Gustavo a rest for the cup match. Two of the three start in a must-win game for Al Nassr, while captain Sami Al-Najei is out due to injury.

Abha head coach Roel Coumans set up in a 3-4-3 that was more of a 3-6-1 in the midweek match and star striker Felipe Caicedo wasn’t even in the squad. That changes for this league match with Abha just six points above the relegation zone.

Local broadcasters in selected countries have acquired the rights to televise or stream the Saudi Pro League, while fans in other countries can subscribe to streaming platform Shahid for complete coverage.

*In the UK, Sky Sports have been showing most Saudi Pro League Al Nassr matches on their YouTube channel for free.

Credit: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/al-nassr-vs-abha-live-score-result-cristiano-ronaldo/jvvnotftjgchxxirg5hobdns

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