Al-Nassr v NEOM preview
Al-Nassr’s game with NEOM tomorrow night will go ahead despite the growing uncertainty in the region caused by the war between Israel and the United States and Iran.
Various sites in Saudi Arabia have been targeted by the Iranians, prompting fears of a halt to the Pro League.
However, the league have opted to continue for now with their decision coming at a pivotal point in the season.
Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win at Al-Fayha on Saturday saw them maintain their place at the top of the table and they go into round 25 with a two-point lead over Al-Ahli, although those positions could be reversed come kick-off with Al-Ahli playing Al-Ittihad tonight.
The hosts will have to do without captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who is injured, and potentially facing up to a month on the sidelines.
Promoted as champions for a second successive season in 2024/25, NEOM have not won consecutive matches since September under former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Gaultier, who took over in July.
The eighth-placed side lost 2-1 at home to Al-Kholood on Saturday and suffered a 3-1 home defeat against Al-Nassr in November, when Ronaldo scored one of the goals.
Galtier’s new players include former Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was not involved against Al-Kholood, and ex-Lyon, West Ham and Brentford wideman Said Benrahma, who came off the bench.
On-loan Strasbourg and France youth international Rayane Messi is part of their attacking line, as is Lyon legend Alexandre Lacazette, who was Arsenal’s player of the season in 2018/19.
Lacazette ended his second spell at the Ligue 1 club to join NEOM and has five goals in his last seven appearances.
Al-Nassr v NEOM team news
Ronaldo was substituted with a right-hamstring injury at Al-Fayha at the weekend and may have left the country, with publicly available flight radar data showing the Portugal captain’s private jet landed in Madrid overnight on Monday.
In Ronaldo’s absence, former Premier League golden boot winner Sadio Mane is said to have alternated with Saudi Arabia international Abdullah Al-Hamdan as centre-forward in training, with Brazilian Angelo Gabriel taking the Senegal international’s place on the wing.
Goalkeeper Raghed Al-Najjar has a knee injury and Brazilian Pinto is set to deputise, according to Al-Riyadh, with Mubarak Al-Buainain as back-up.
Midfielders Abdulmalik Al-Jaber and Sami Al-Najai are recovering from knee problems.
Centre-back Saad Al-Mousa and winger Muhanad Al-Saad (both foot) are out for NEOM, as are goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and midfielder Abbas Al-Hassan with long-term knee injuries.
Al-Nassr v NEOM expected line-ups
Al-Nassr starting XI: Pinto; Nawaf Bu Washl, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al Amri, Inigo Martinez, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Marcelo Brozovic, Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Abdullah Al-Hamdan
NEOM starting XI: Luis Maximiano, Khalifah Al Dawsari, Ahmed Hegazi, Nathan Zeze, Faris Abdi, Salman Al Faraj, Amadou Kone, Alaa Al Haji, Rayane Messi, Alexandre Lacazette, Luciano Rodriguez
How to watch Al-Nassr v NEOM
The match kicks off at 19:00 GMT on Saturday (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). In the UK, the Saudi top-flight broadcast channel is the Saudi Pro League YouTube channel.
In the US, FOX Sports are the Saudi Pro League live broadcasters.
Al-Nassr vs Neom stats
- The teams have met just once previously in the Pro League, a goal from Ronaldo helping Al-Nassr to a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture in November
- Al-Nassr have won their last 12 games in all competitions
