Professional League,
Spherical 3
Al-Ettifaq
ETT
25/08/2026
19:00
Al-Nassr
NAS
-
Venue
- Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium
Al-Ettifaq v Al-Nassr preview
Ange Postecoglou is aiming to proceed his serene begin to his profession as Al-Nassr head coach after his facet ensured they’ve gained every of their first three matches of the season in all competitions by not less than three objectives with a 4-0 victory at Al-Riyadh on Friday.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo made his first look since representing Portugal on the World Cup, the two-time Saudi Professional League prime scorer opening his account for the marketing campaign with a purpose after approaching.
“It was necessary for Cris to take his time to return again as a result of he was very busy within the low season,” mentioned Postecoglou.
“Three video games in six days was all the time going to be a problem for us and I may see, at instances, how drained [the players] had been.
“We weren’t as sharp as we had been in earlier in video games, however they by no means stopped they usually confirmed their high quality.”
Postecoglou now faces a well-recognized fellow Australian in new Al-Ettifaq boss Arthur Papas, who was his assistant when the longer term Premier League supervisor gained the Japanese title with Yokohama in 2019.
Fourteen years Postecoglou’s junior, Papas has flourished in his homeland, Thailand and Japan, the place he gained the West Division Supervisor of the Yr with Cerezo Osaka this yr.
Papas is in his second spell at Al-Ettifaq, having briefly been an assistant on the membership once they efficiently battled relegation in 2017.
Following a seventh-placed end final season to qualify for the Gulf Membership Champions League, Al-Ettifaq are considered one of 5 golf equipment to have gained their first two league matches of the season alongside defending champions Al-Nassr, NEOM, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahly.
“Al-Ettifaq is a historic membership with a wealthy heritage and nice potential,” Papas mentioned when he was appointed in July, describing himself as “thrilled”.
“The purpose now could be to take the subsequent step ahead, along with our followers, and work in the direction of successful a championship.”
Al-Ettifaq v Al-Nassr group information
Al-Ettifaq are reportedly on the verge of signing Jordan Larsson for round £1.3 million from Copenhagen.
The 29-year-old son of legendary striker Henrik Larsson has additionally represented Sweden and spent a part of his youth profession at considered one of his father’s former golf equipment, Barcelona, occurring to win the Danish title and Danish Cup twice every together with his present membership.
Scotland centre-back Jack Hendry scored within the 78th minute of Al-Ettifaq’s 1-0 win at Al-Fateh on Saturday.
Former Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum left after virtually three years when his contract expired following the top of the 2025/26 season.
Al-Nassr defenders Mohamed Simakan and Saad Al-Nasser, ahead Mohammed Maran and winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb have educated individually and aren’t in competition due to accidents, in response to Al-Riyadh.
New Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa has overcome an harm and is obtainable however goalkeepers Nawaf Al-Aqidi and Raghed Al-Najjar are out.
Ronaldo is prone to be pushing for a primary begin of the season. The 41-year-old changed Saudi Arabia ahead Abdullah Al-Hamdan within the 62nd minute in opposition to Al-Riyadh.
Al-Ettifaq v Al-Nassr anticipated line ups
Al-Ettifaq beginning XI: Turki Ba Al Jawsh, Radhi Al Otaibi, Jack Hendry, Abdullah Khateeb, Madallah Al Olayan, Alvaro Medran, Ondrej Duda, Yasir Shammari, Rayane Messi, Moussa Dembele, Khalid Al Ghannam
Al-Nassr beginning XI: Bento, Nawaf Bu Washl, Abdulelah Al Amri, Inigo Martinez, Salem Al Najdi, Kingsley Coman, Angelo, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix
ℹ️ Official lineups aren’t out there but. They’re often introduced 20–40 minutes earlier than kickoff, relying on the competitors.
Al-Ettifaq v Al-Nassr current kind, stats
- No group drew extra dwelling video games in final season’s Saudi Professional League than Al-Ettifaq (6), whereas solely 4 groups suffered fewer dwelling defeats (4)
- These groups have gone 41 matches and virtually 22 years in opposition to one another with out the top consequence being 0-0, though they did share a goalless stalemate at Al-Nassr within the King’s Cup final 16 in October 2023, when additional time was required and Sadio Mane settled the tie within the 107th minute
- Solely one of many six conferences between these groups since August 2023 has produced an Al-Ettifaq win, with Al-Nassr successful on three events and one draw
- Wijnaldum scored twice in that victory at Al-Nassr in February 2025, serving to his facet come from behind twice and netting an 89th-minute winner
- Al-Ettifaq’s former captain additionally scored twice when Al-Nassr had been the guests in final season’s Saudi Professional League, netting both facet of objectives by Ronaldo and Joao Felix in a 2-2 attract December 2025
- Kingsley Coman scored the first-half winner when Al-Nassr gained the return match 1-0 in April, with Hendry dismissed within the 94th minute
- The 4 editions of the fixture instantly previous that sport had averaged 4 objectives a sport, with 13 of the 16 objectives coming after half-time
- Al-Nassr have gained considered one of their final six visits to Al-Ettifaq in all competitions (D4 L1), prevailing 3-0 in September 2024 by means of objectives by Ronaldo, Salem Al-Najdi and Talisca, together with two assists for Mane
- Ronaldo has three objectives in his final 4 appearances in opposition to Al-Ettifaq, netting in every of Al-Nassr’s final two video games because the away facet within the fixture
The place to look at Al Ettifaq v Al Nassr: TV, reside on-line streams
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:00 BST (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). Dwell protection within the UK is on DAZN, which prices £15.99 a month, with reside streaming on the DAZN app.
Within the US, FOX Sports activities are the Saudi Professional League reside broadcasters. For various territories, go to the Saudi Pro League broadcaster page.
Al Ettifaq v Al Nassr prediction
Al-Ettifaq
1 – 1
Al-Nassr
Al-Ettifaq’s sturdy begin to the season and stable current dwelling file in opposition to Al-Nassr means they give the impression of being well-placed to develop into the primary group to hassle the reigning champions this season
