Al Nassr will need heroics from Cristiano Ronaldo if they are to haul their way back into the Saudi Pro League title picture after another damaging setback.
Stefano Pioli's side went into the November international break six point behind leaders and champions Al Hilal, with Al-Ittihad five points better off in second.
That picture is mirrored in the Golden Boot standings, as Al-Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic leads the way on 11, with Al-Ittihad's Karim Benzema second on eight.
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Ronaldo netted his seventh of the season to give Al Nassr a 32nd-minute lead at home to Al Qadisiyah on Friday before their vulnerabilities again came to the fore and Julian Quinones.
Things got worse for the hosts when the other marquee striker in the game, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, gave Al Qadisiyah the lead early in the second half. It proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo open play goals in 2024/25Ronaldo's finish from close range after an error from goalkeeper Koen Casteels was notable, however, because it was his first goal from open play since the opening weekend of 2024/25.
Each of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's previous four goals in the Saudi Pro League were all penalties, while he dispatched a rare free-kick against Al Fayha on August 27.
Before Friday you had to go back to the opening game of the season five days earlier for his most recent success from open play, a header in the 1-1 draw with Al Raed.
The notable caveat is that Ronaldo's two goals across three AFC Champions League games this term have been from open play. He scored a penalty for Portugal against Poland during the November international break but followed that with a spectacular overhead kick to crown a 5-1 win.
