al-nassr vs al-taawoun lineups: Ronaldo starts again
Brings Cristiano Ronaldo back in the starting XI as Al-Nassr chase a fourth straight Saudi Pro League win on Friday evening. Al-nassr vs al-taawoun — full…
RIYADH — al-nassr vs al-taawoun arrives with Al-Nassr looking to keep a perfect Saudi Pro League start intact after three wins from three. Cristiano Ronaldo is set to start again, while Nawaf Al-Aqidi returns in goal for Friday evening’s fourth-round match.
The stakes are immediate. Al-Nassr sit on nine points and have already shown they can win in messy circumstances, including a 3-2 comeback against Al-Ettifaq in which they played most of the match with 10 men. Al-Taawoun, by contrast, come in with two points from three games and will try to slow down a side that has scored freely and defended with enough resilience to stay perfect.
Ronaldo stays in the XI
Goal.com reported that Al-Nassr boss Ange Postecoglou named Ronaldo in the starting line-up for the second match running. Ronaldo had started against Al-Ettifaq before being withdrawn at half-time, and he keeps his place as Al-Nassr look to stretch their winning run.
He is expected to line up alongside Sadio Mané and Kingsley Coman in a front three that gives Al-Nassr serious pace and finishing power. Joao Felix, who impressed in the comeback against Al-Ettifaq, is also part of the attacking setup and adds another direct option between the lines.
That matters because Al-Nassr have not just been winning. They have been doing it while leaning on a core that can change a game quickly. The mix of Ronaldo’s movement, Mané’s direct running and Coman’s width has given Postecoglou a flexible front line from the opening weeks of the season.
Al-Aqidi returns in goal
Nawaf Al-Aqidi is back between the posts for the first time this season, according to Goal.com. His recall comes after Brazilian goalkeeper Bento Matheus was sent off in the previous match against Al-Ettifaq, opening the door for Al-Aqidi to step in for a fresh test.
In front of him, the back line is set to feature Salem Al-Najdi, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al-Amri and Nawaf Boushal. ESPN’s match page listed the same defensive shape for Al-Nassr, with Samu Costa and Ângelo Gabriel also in the side as the team lined up in a 4-4-1-1 shape.
Al-Taawoun, meanwhile, were listed in a 3-4-3 with Hamdallah leading their attack. They will need to hold their shape against a home side that has already collected nine points and is trying to keep early pressure on the top end of the table.
Why this match matters now
For Al-Nassr, this is about rhythm as much as points. A fourth straight league win would keep their opening record clean and preserve the momentum built in the first three matches. For Al-Taawoun, the challenge is sharper: they have to deal with an attack that can punish small lapses and a squad carrying confidence from a strong start.
ESPN’s match data showed Al-Nassr controlling 69% possession and outshooting Al-Taawoun 10-3, with three shots on goal to two for the visitors. The numbers matched the flow of a game in which Al-Nassr dictated tempo, moved the ball with 220 accurate passes and kept Al-Taawoun under constant pressure.
The head-to-head record also leans Al-Nassr’s way. ESPN’s recent matchup log showed the club had won four of the last five meetings listed, including a 2-1 result in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League. That gives Friday’s game a familiar edge: Al-Nassr expect to win, and Al-Taawoun know exactly how hard that is.
