Al-Nassr began their home campaign in the Saudi Pro League with a solid 2-0 victory over Al-Okhood, built on second-half quality and resilience. Goals from Sadio Mané and Iñigo Martínez, coupled with a crucial penalty save by goalkeeper Najjar, ensured Jorge Jesus’ side collected three valuable points in the early stages of the 2025-26 season.
The match started brightly for the hosts, who immediately asserted dominance. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kingsley Coman both tested goalkeeper Cozzani within the opening 20 minutes, while João Félix’s movement kept Al-Okhood’s backline busy. Despite the pressure, Cozzani stood firm, producing sharp saves from Mané, Ângelo and Simakan as Al-Nassr’s tempo increased. Al-Okhood, meanwhile, threatened sporadically on the counter, with John Buckley and Ramiro Enrique probing, but lacked precision.
Al-Nassr’s control failed to produce a breakthrough before the interval, sending the teams into the break goalless. However, the home side returned from halftime determined to find the edge their dominance deserved. Five minutes into the second half, Mané finally delivered. Pressing high, he combined with Coman on the edge of the area, broke through the defence, and calmly slotted low past Cozzani to put Al-Nassr 1-0 up.
The goal opened the game, with chances at both ends. Cristiano Ronaldo’s powerful effort was blocked before Al-Okhood earned a lifeline on 40 minutes. VAR awarded a penalty after Iñigo Martínez clipped Sawan inside the box. Maolida stepped up confidently, but Najjar guessed right, diving to his corner to produce a superb save and preserve Al-Nassr’s lead.
Minutes later, Martínez atoned in emphatic style. Rising highest from a Brozovic corner, the Spanish defender powered a header into the net, doubling Al-Nassr’s advantage and effectively sealing the contest. The closing stages saw further substitutions from both sides, but while Al-Okhood pushed forward, they could not breach a disciplined Al-Nassr defence.
The 2-0 result reflected both Al-Nassr’s superiority and their defensive resilience in key moments. Mané once again showed his sharpness in front of goal, while Martínez contributed decisively at both ends. Najjar’s penalty stop underlined his importance to the squad, providing the turning point in a match that could have shifted.
With this win, Al-Nassr continue their strong start to the campaign and turn attention to midweek AFC Cup action against Istiklol, while Al-Okhood will look to regroup quickly ahead of their home clash with Dhamk.
