Al-Nassr will host Al-Ahli at Al-Awwal Park this Friday in a highly anticipated 2024-25 Saudi Professional League fixture. Both sides are seeking to establish momentum early in the campaign, with Al-Nassr aiming to secure their first league title since the 2018-19 season.
The hosts have had a mixed start, collecting four points from their first two matches, leaving them fifth in the standings. Al-Nassr's last outing was a convincing 4-1 victory over Al-Fayha, where Anderson Talisca, Cristiano Ronaldo, and former Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozović found the back of the net, with Al-Fayha managing only a late consolation goal.
Al-Ahli, on the other hand, opened their season with a 2-0 win against newly-promoted Al Orobah, thanks to goals from Abdulkarim Darisi and former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino. However, they faltered in their second match, losing 1-0 to Al-Fateh in a disappointing performance on the road. The visitors currently sit eighth in the table with three points.
Head-to-Head and Key Stats
Historically, these teams have met 63 times, with Al-Ahli holding a slight edge with 26 wins to Al-Nassr’s 23, and 14 matches ending in draws. Al-Nassr, however, have dominated recent encounters, winning their last two meetings and remaining unbeaten in their last five. Al-Ahli, meanwhile, have struggled defensively in this fixture, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last nine meetings.
Offensively, Al-Nassr have started the season strong, scoring five goals, a tally only surpassed by Al Riyadh and reigning champions Al-Hilal (both with six goals).
Match Prediction
Al-Nassr’s latest victory broke a run of back-to-back winless outings, and they’ll be eager to build on that momentum. Undefeated in their last six home league games, they’ll feel confident heading into this weekend's clash.
Al-Ahli, after a strong start, have stumbled in two of their last three competitive matches, and will be determined to turn their fortunes around. However, considering Al-Nassr’s home form and recent dominance in this fixture, they face a tough challenge.