Al-Nassr 4-1 Al-Khaleej: Joao Felix and Ronaldo star as hosts extend perfect league start

Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo played starring roles as Al-Nassr extended their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League with a comfortable 4-1 win over 10-man Al-Khaleej. 

Jorge Jesus' team made it nine wins from nine to start their 2025-26 campaign, with Wesley and Sadio Mane also on target at Al-Awwal Park on Sunday. 

After a low-key first half in the final third, Joao Felix fired Al-Nassr in front six minutes before the break with a neat side-footed shot from the centre of the penalty area. 

Joao Felix then quickly turned provider in the 42nd minute, holding off a strong challenge before teeing up Wesley for a thumping strike that whistled into the top-right corner.

However, Al-Nassr's lead was halved just two minutes after the restart when Murad Al Hawsawi tried his luck from distance and found a way past Al-Nassr's Nawaf Al Aqidi. 

But as Al-Khaleej pushed for a leveller, they were hit with a sucker punch at the other end when Mane put the result beyond doubt with a superb 77th-minute finish. 

Dimitrios Kourbelis was then brandished a red card in the 90th minute as their frustrations began to boil over, and their misery was compounded in second-half stoppage time.

A teasing delivery into the box was met with a spectacular overhead kick by Ronaldo in the 96th minute, despite the best efforts of Al-Khaleej goalkeeper Anthony Morris. 

Data Debrief: Joao Felix and Ronaldo cap off dominant win

Al-Nassr have now scored in their last 62 games in the Saudi Pro League – the longest scoring run in club history (since 2011-2012).

Despite the scoreline, both sides created chances in equal measure, with Al-Nassr generating 1.71 expected goals (xG) from their 21 shots to Al-Khaleej's 1.70 xG from 12 attempts.

Indeed, Al-Nassr's Portuguese duo played a key role for the hosts. Joao Felix registered two shots on target from two attempts and five entries into the final third, while Ronaldo managed a mammoth eight shots (four on target) and created two big chances.