Saudi League Standings After Win for Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Round 3

• Al-Ittihad still top the Saudi Pro League standings with a perfect record after matchweek three
• Closely following the Tigers is Al-Ahli who were promoted from the Division One for this season
• Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are still far away from the upper echelons of the top flight despite a big win

The 2023-24 Saudi Pro League is starting to take shape after three rounds of matches.

After a sluggish start to the season, Al-Nassr discovered their winning rhythm, led by the remarkable Cristiano Ronaldo who netted his 63rd career hat-trick.

This triumphant performance marked the first victory of the campaign for the Knights of Najd.

In contrast, defending champions, Al-Ittihad and newly-promoted side, Al-Ahli, maintained a flawless record with three consecutive wins, Arab News reported.

Meanwhile, in Buraidah, Al-Hilal bounced back from a disappointing draw against Al-Feiha in the second match week, securing a victory.

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Football

As matchweek four of the SPL approaches, Sports Brief takes a closer look at the league standings following an exhilarating round of matches.

Results from SPL matchday 3

Among the matches played, four clubs showcased their scoring prowess, each netting three or more goals.

Most notable is Ronaldo, who delivered a masterclass performance as Al-Nassr completely dismantled Al Fateh, putting an end to their two-game losing streak in spectacular fashion, per MARCA.

The seasoned Portuguese star secured a hat-trick, complemented by Sadio Mane's brace, propelling the Knights of Najd away from the relegation zone.

Al-Ittihad came closest to matching Al-Nassr's impeccable result, as they dominated Al-Riyadh with an authoritative four-nil victory. This match marked Karim Benzema's long-awaited goal-scoring breakthrough after three league appearances.

Following suit, Al-Hilal, who are featuring Neymar Junior on their roster this season, tore Al-Raed apart by achieving the same impressive four-nil scoreline.

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Summer signing, Aleksandar Mitrovic, made a striking debut to find the back of the net as Jorge Jesus' team aims to recapture the league title from Al-Ittihad.

Meanwhile, newly-promoted Al-Ahli remained in step with the reigning champions, securing all three points thanks to Franck Kessie's last-gasp header, ensuring a thrilling victory for the Jeddah club.

How the SPL table looks

Al-Ittihad has maintained a firm grip on the top spot in the league standings with an impressive nine points. Adding to their dominance, Nuno Espirito Santo's squad has yet to concede a single goal in their three matches while notching up an impressive nine goals themselves.

In the second position is Al-Ahli, who also boast a perfect record of three wins from three matches. However, their goal difference falls short compared to the league leaders.

Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq and Al-Taawoun, the teams responsible for Al-Nassr's two defeats, are tied for third place with seven points alongside Al-Hilal.

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After securing their first victory, Ronaldo's Knights of Najd currently occupy the tenth position in the standings.

In the relegation zone, Al-Khaleej and Al-Hazem have accumulated only one point each, while Al-Raed languish at the bottom of the table with no points to their name.

Al-Ittihad's Benzema suffers potential injury

Sports Brief also reported on Al-Ittihad's Benzema leaving the game injured just before half-time during their clash against Al-Wehda.

The Frenchman will be sorely missed by the Tigers, particularly with Neymar possibly debuting for Al-Hilal in their upcoming clash.