Al-Nassr’s push for a top-three finish in the Saudi Pro League suffered a setback on Friday night as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Al-Taawoun side in Riyadh.
Despite their recent emphatic 9-0 win without Cristiano Ronaldo, the star forward’s absence was noticeably felt in this match, sparking renewed concerns for the Riyadh-based club’s form in the season’s closing stages.
Al-Nassr looked poised for another victory when midfielder Otávio broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a well-timed header from a corner. However, Al-Taawoun responded strongly, and Roger Martínez netted the equalizer in the 70th minute to earn a hard-fought point for the visitors.
The result moves Al-Nassr to 64 points—still in fourth place—now trailing third-placed Al-Qadsiah by a single point. Al-Qadsiah had earlier strengthened their position with a 3-1 win over Al-Wehda on Thursday, tightening the battle for AFC Champions League qualification.
With only two matches remaining in the season, the top-three race is intensifying, and Al-Nassr must find consistency if they hope to secure a direct Champions League berth. Ronaldo’s continued absence and the team’s struggle to convert dominance into wins are growing concerns for the club’s supporters.
Meanwhile, league champions Al-Ittihad, led by Karim Benzema, continued their dominant run, coming from behind to defeat Al-Raed 3-1, further reinforcing their title credentials with two games to spare.
Al-Nassr now face mounting pressure to regroup and deliver in the final stretch if they are to secure a spot among Asia’s elite next season.
