Cristiano Ronaldo stands on the brink of ending the longest major trophy drought of his career as Al Nassr prepare for their final Saudi Pro League game of the season against Damac Club on Thursday.
The Portuguese star has not won a major trophy since lifting the Coppa Italia with Juventus in 2021. Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, Ronaldo has consistently delivered goals, winning the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot in each of the last two seasons, but major silverware has remained elusive.
That frustration deepened just days ago on May 16, when Al Nassr suffered a painful 1-0 defeat to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final at Alawwal Park. Now, Jorge Jesus' side have one final opportunity to salvage the season.
Al Nassr head into Matchday 34 sitting top of the Saudi Pro League table with 83 points. A victory over Damac Club would seal the club's 11th league title regardless of Al Hilal's result against Al Fayha.
Anything less would leave the title race open, with Al Hilal still capable of overtaking them if results go their way. Second-placed Al Hilal remain the only unbeaten side in the Saudi Pro League this season and kept the title race alive after holding Al Nassr to a dramatic 1-1 draw in the Riyadh derby on May 12. Ronaldo's side had looked set for a potentially title-clinching win before goalkeeper Bento's stoppage-time error gifted Al Hilal a late equaliser and extended the title race into the final game of the season.
For Ronaldo personally, the stakes remain enormous. Alongside the chance to win his first official title with Al Nassr, the 41-year-old still retains an outside chance of claiming a third consecutive Saudi Pro League Golden Boot. Ronaldo heads into the final matchday with 26 league goals this season, trailing Ivan Toney (32) and Julián Quiñones (30) in the scoring charts.
Despite their recent continental disappointment, Al Nassr remain formidable at home and have dominated this fixture historically. When the two sides met earlier this season in January, Al Nassr secured a tense 2-1 victory away from home. Abdulrahman Ghareeb opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Ronaldo doubled the lead shortly after halftime, although Damac pushed them hard after pulling one back in the second half.
Damac, meanwhile, come into this game with momentum and everything still to play for after a crucial 3-0 victory over Al Fayha in their previous league outing. The result kept their survival hopes alive heading into the final day of the season.
While Al Nassr are fighting for the title, Damac are battling to avoid relegation. Sitting just two points above the drop zone, they know a draw would be enough to secure their Saudi Pro League survival. With their top-flight status on the line, Damac are unlikely to back down quietly, setting up a tense contest despite Al Nassr entering as favourites.
Al Nassr vs Damac Club: Match Venue And Time
The Saudi Pro League match between Al Nassr and Damac Club will be played at Alawwal Park in Riyadh from 11:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time on Thursday.
Al Nassr vs Damac Club: Predicted Playing XIs
Al Nassr: Bento Krepski; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Inigo Martinez; Ali Al-Hassan, Mukhtar Ali; Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Damac Club: Kerwin Silva; Sanousi Al-Hawsawi, Jamal Harkass, Abdelkader Bedrane, Abdulrahman Al-Obaid; Morlaye Sylla, Abdullah Al-Qahtani; Valentin Vada, Yakou Meite, Arielson Marques; Jonathan Okita.
Al Nassr vs Damac Club: Head-To-Head Record
Al Nassr have dominated the fixture historically, winning 11 of the 14 meetings between the two clubs. Damac have managed just one victory, while the remaining two matches ended in draws.
Al Nassr vs Damac Club: How To Watch Live Telecast In India
The match will be available on the FanCode Sports channel (Tata Play Channel 475).
Al Nassr vs Damac Club: How To Watch Live Streaming In India
The match will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website.
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