Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of the Saudi Pro League title suffered a setback as his Al Nassr side was held to a 1-1 draw by league leaders Al Hilal in a highly anticipated clash in Riyadh on Friday.
Despite a strong start that saw Al Nassr take an early lead through Talisca, Al Hilal fought back to earn a point, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scoring the equalizer in the 77th minute. The match was marred by jeers from Al Hilal fans directed at Ronaldo, who responded with a thumbs-up gesture.
Al Nassr began the match with a flurry of attacks, and their efforts were rewarded within the first minute when Otavio set up Talisca for a simple finish. However, Al Hilal gradually gained control of the game and came close to equalizing in the 38th minute when Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goal was ruled offside.
Ronaldo had several chances to extend Al Nassr’s lead but failed to convert, and he was also booked for a tackle on Joao Cancelo. After the break, Al Hilal continued to press for an equalizer, and their efforts were rewarded when Milinkovic-Savic converted Lodi’s cross.
Towards the end of the match, Al Hilal had a penalty appeal turned down by VAR after a clash between Bento and Mitrovic. Despite the setback, Ronaldo remains optimistic about Al Nassr’s chances in the league and the upcoming AFC Champions League match against Al Ain on Tuesday.
