Sunday, February 22, 2026 l Mohammed Fayad, Dalena News Desk
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — In a decisive twist to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title race, Al-Nassr Football Club surged to the summit of the standings early Sunday morning, capitalizing on a tightly contested weekend of domestic fixtures that left perennial rivals Al-Hilal held to a draw by a resilient Al-Ittihad side reduced to 10 men.
The result marks a significant moment in the Kingdom’s top flight, occurring less than one month after global star Cristiano Ronaldo sat out two consecutive matches periods in which Al-Nassr faced questions about consistency and momentum.
At the Kingdom Arena, Al-Nassr delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Al-Hazem, setting the stage for their rise to first place. Early initiative was evident when Karim Benzema played a precise pass to Salem Al-Dawsari, whose cross was met by Malcom to open the scoring in just the fifth minute.
Al-Hilal, meanwhile, engaged in a tightly fought showdown with Al-Ittihad. Despite going a man down early due to a contentious red-card decision following a VAR review, Al-Ittihad sustained competitive pressure and ultimately forced a 1-1 stalemate, bolstering their reputation for tactical resilience.
Social media chatter followed the high-profile red card, as fans, pundits, and commentators weighed in on the decision and its impact. Amid the debate, strategic adjustments by Al-Ittihad saw Houssem Aouar drop deeper into midfield, aiding his team in mounting attacks even when numerically disadvantaged.
Back at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Nassr’s offensive pressure did not relent. Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman both made incisive contributions, with Coman playing a crucial role in the buildup to Al-Nassr’s second goal. Ronaldo then capped off the scoring with a composed finish — his 20th league strike of the season — reaffirming his influence on the club’s fortunes after his return.
With this result, Al-Nassr rose to 55 points, edging out Al-Hilal in second place and setting up a tight chase with just 12 matches left on the calendar. Al-Ittihad, positioned sixth, remain in the hunt for continental qualification slots but trail the top tier by a sizable margin.
Elsewhere across the league, Al-Khaleej and NEOM faced off in a separate match that was briefly disrupted by a 19-minute power outage, after which NEOM secured a late 1-0 victory through an Alexandre Lacazette penalty.
As the Saudi Pro League returns from a brief Founding Day observance, supporters and pundits alike are bracing for a crucial stretch of matches that could define the title race, continental qualification, and potential shifts in regional football dominance.