The Saudi Pro League title race shifts back to Riyadh tonight, Thursday, January 8, 2026, as Al-Nassr welcomes the ambitious Al-Qadsiah to Al-Awwal Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:30 AST (17:30 GMT).
Jorge Jesus’s side is in rare territory: they are winless in their last two league outings. After surrendering the top spot to Al-Hilal following a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Al-Ahli, the Knights of Najd are desperate to avoid a mid-season slump and reclaim their lead at the summit.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Saudi Pro League (Gameweek 14)
Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
Kick-off: 20:30 AST / 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET
Venue: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh
Referee: TBD
Broadcast: SSC (Saudi Arabia), DAZN (International), Fox Sports (US)
The Storyline: Regaining the Throne vs. The Knights of the East
Al-Nassr: The Prolific Attack Seeks Redemption
Al-Nassr began the 2025/26 campaign with an historic 10 consecutive wins, but the wheels have wobbled slightly with a draw against Al-Ettifaq and the loss to Al-Ahli. Despite the recent dip, they remain the league’s most lethal offense, having netted 37 goals in just 12 matches.
The duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix has been unstoppable, with both stars currently tied for the Golden Boot race with 13 goals each. Playing at Al-Awwal Park has been a cheat code for Al-Nassr this season; they have won five consecutive home games, scoring 18 times in that stretch. For Jorge Jesus, tonight is about restoring the defensive discipline that complemented their firepower during the opening ten rounds.
Al-Qadsiah: The Giant-Killers of the East
Al-Qadsiah arrives in Riyadh sitting comfortably in 5th place (24 points). Far from being intimidated, the "Knights of the East" have a bizarrely good record against Al-Nassr, having won their last three head-to-head encounters, including a 2-1 victory in April 2025.
Underpinned by summer signings like Mateo Retegui (8 goals) and Nacho Fernández, Al-Qadsiah has evolved into a disciplined unit capable of frustrating the elite. They come into this match on the back of consecutive league wins and will look to exploit any lingering psychological scars in the Al-Nassr backline
Team News & Key Absentees
Al-Nassr Team News
Injury Blows: Mohamed Simakan is sidelined with a torn thigh muscle, and Sami Al-Najei remains out long-term with a cruciate ligament injury.
Returnees: Kingsley Coman has been declared fit to start, and Iñigo Martínez is expected to return to the heart of the defense after a managed rest period.
Goalie Watch: Brazilian keeper Bento will need to be at his best after a shaky performance against Al-Ahli.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bento; Sultan Al-Ghannam, Iñigo Martínez, Laporte, Lajami; Brozović, Reijnders; Coman, João Félix, Sadio Mané; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Qadsiah Team News
Full Strength: Unlike the hosts, Al-Qadsiah reports no fresh injury concerns or suspensions.
Key Duel: Former Real Madrid captain Nacho will have the primary task of marking his former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Attack: Mateo Retegui and Julián Quiñones (8 goals) will lead the line, supported by the creative Musab Al-Juwayr.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Casteels; Abu Al-Shamat, Nacho, Gastón Álvarez, Yasser Al-Shahrani; Nández, Julian Weigl, Al-Juwayr, Otávio; Retegui, Quiñones.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Recent Dominance: Al-Qadsiah has won the last three meetings against Al-Nassr.
Home Fortress: Al-Nassr has won 5 consecutive home games in the league this season.
The 100 Club: Earlier this season, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score 100 goals for four different clubs when he reached the milestone for Al-Nassr.
Playmakers: Al-Qadsiah’s Musab Al-Juwayr leads the visitors with 5 assists this season.
Tactical Analysis: High Press vs. Tactical Discipline
Al-Nassr’s success this season has been built on an aggressive high press and the fluid interchange between João Félix and Ronaldo. By occupying the "half-spaces," Félix often draws defenders out of position, leaving gaps for Ronaldo to exploit.
Al-Qadsiah will likely counter this with a compact 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 low block. With Nacho and Casteels providing veteran leadership at the back, they will aim to absorb pressure and use the passing range of Julian Weigl to launch quick transitions for Retegui. If Al-Qadsiah can survive the first 20 minutes without conceding, the tension in the Riyadh crowd could become an extra defender for the visitors.
Match Prediction
Al-Nassr is under immense pressure to respond. While Al-Qadsiah is a "bogey team" for the hosts, the combined form of Ronaldo and Félix at home is usually too much for any RSL defense to handle over 90 minutes.
Final Score Prediction: Al-Nassr 3–1 Al-Qadsiah
