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Analysis of the match between Al-Taawoun and Al-Nassr
Last season, Al-Nassr once again fell short of expectations, finishing only third in the Saudi Pro League despite the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023. The Portuguese superstar is still chasing his first trophy in Saudi Arabia, with the latest setback being a penalty shootout defeat to Al-Ahli in the Super Cup.
That third-place finish meant Al-Nassr missed out on the AFC Champions League Elite, and instead dropped to the AFC Champions League Two – Asia’s equivalent of the Europa League – where they will face Al Zawraa (Iraq), Goa (India), and Istiqlol Dushanbe (Tajikistan) in the group stage.
One of the key reasons behind Al-Nassr’s failure to secure a higher finish was their 1-1 draw with Al-Taawoun in round 32, a result that officially ended their hopes of finishing second. This makes the upcoming clash more than just three points on the line – it’s a chance for Ronaldo and his teammates to settle the score and start the new campaign on a positive note.
However, Al-Nassr must be wary, as they have failed to beat Al-Taawoun in their last three meetings (two draws and one defeat). On the other side, Al-Taawoun impressed by finishing eighth last season despite limited resources, but the gap between them and the top teams remains huge – 15 points behind sixth place and 22 behind fifth. Given the gulf in quality, if Al-Nassr play to their potential, they should have enough to secure victory.
