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Al-Nassr’s title challenge faces another major obstacle as five key players will miss their crucial Saudi Pro League encounter against Al-Shabab, with suspensions, international duty and injuries depleting Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad after their recent 3-1 defeat to league leaders Al-Hilal extended their winless run to four matches.
Al-Nassr Face Al-Shabab Without Five Key Players as Title Hopes Fade
The absences include midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who is suspended after accumulating yellow cards, and goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi, who received a red card in their previous match. Sadio Mane remains unavailable due to international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Mohamed Simakan is sidelined with a muscle injury and Sami Al-Najei continues his recovery from a long-term knee problem.
Al-Nassr’s title ambitions suffered a significant setback with their 3-1 defeat to Al-Hilal, extending their winless streak to four matches across all competitions. The result stands in stark contrast to their early-season form, which saw them achieve 10 consecutive league victories in a historic run that briefly placed them at the summit of Saudi football.
Against the league leaders, hope briefly emerged when Ronaldo struck three minutes before half-time to give his side the lead. However, the second half unraveled quickly as penalties converted by Salem Al-Dawsari and Ruben Neves, along with a strike from Mohamed Kanno, condemned Al-Nassr to another painful defeat that highlighted their recent struggles.
The Knight of Najd now sits seven points behind the leaders, a gap made more daunting by Al-Hilal’s remarkable form of 19 consecutive victories, including 11 straight league wins. Discipline has emerged as a worrying trend for Al-Nassr, with red cards in two of their last three matches undermining team structure and prompting frustration from the coaching staff.
Al-Shabab approach the fixture under different pressure, hovering just above the relegation zone despite recently securing a vital 3-2 victory over Neom, their first league win since September. That breakthrough was inspired by Yannick Carrasco, whose two goals lifted morale, though consistency remains elusive, particularly in away fixtures where results have been sparse and confidence fragile.
