Saudi Arabian titans Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal go to war once again in a battle between the Pro League’s top two teams
The Saudi Pro League title may have already been decided, but that doesn’t mean fans won’t be tuning in for yet another clash between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and champion Al-Hilal on Friday. The two Riyadh rivals will meet for the fifth time since the season began (including friendlies) and go to war in the latest edition of what has become the Middle East’s most hotly contested rivalry of late. Al-Hilal has won the last three meetings between the pair and most recently beat Al-Nassr to lift the Saudi Arabian Super Cup in April, going unbeaten inside the 90 minutes across the last eight encounters.
How to Watch Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal Today
Game Date: May 17, 2024
Start Time: 2 p.m. ET
Game Venue: Al Awal Park at Kind Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
TV: FOX Soccer Plus
Live stream the Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal game on Fubo:Â Start your free trial now!
Ronaldo was shown his marching orders for an outburst that saw him elbow one opponent when these clubs clashed in the Super Cup last month.
However, the Portuguese is back in contention this time around and looking to put a dent in Al-Hilal’s pride after Neymar & Co lifted the league title last weekend.
Brazil ace Neymar was part of the team’s celebrations even though a knee injury has kept him sidelined for pretty much the whole season, with his deputies fulfilling their duties in his stead.
Meanwhile, Al-Nassr made it five wins in a row after beating Al-Akhdoud 3-2 on the road thanks to Marcelo Brozovic’s last-minute volley:
Luis Castro could do without his side requiring such late heroics when the team returns to Al Awal Park at Kind Saud University Stadium, hoping to send a message about the power balance in Saudi Arabia.
The same can be said for the men in blue, who have their own Portuguese maestro at the helm in Jorge Jesus, who was still on the rise as a manager when Ronaldo first came through the ranks.
Fast-forward to today and Jesus has the upper hand over such a familiar face in Saudi Arabia, but Al-Nassr will hold out hope of stemming a relentless tide in this fixture all the same.
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