Al Qadsiah produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat Al Nassr 3-1 at the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium in Dammam on 3 May 2026, delivering a significant blow to the league leaders’ title ambitions and reopening the Saudi Pro League title race with just weeks remaining in the season.
The victory extended Al Qadsiah’s remarkable record against Cristiano Ronaldo‘s side, making it four consecutive wins in the head-to-head fixture. Coming into the match, the hosts had already claimed three straight victories over Al Nassr, and they showed no signs of reversing that trend, neutralising the visitors’ attacking threat with a well-organised defensive structure anchored by former Real Madrid defender Nacho and Gastón Álvarez.
Al Qadsiah drew first blood in the first half, with Mohammed Waheeb Abu Al Shamat converting a Christopher Baah assist to give the hosts the lead after a period of sustained pressure on the counter. Al Nassr responded before the interval, with Marcelo Brozović teeing up João Félix, who finished from close range to level at 1-1 and briefly shift the momentum in the visitors’ favour.
The second half, however, told a different story. Musab Fahd Aljuwayr restored Al Qadsiah’s advantage early after the restart, putting the home side 2-1 ahead and placing the burden of recovery firmly on Al Nassr. As Jorge Jesus’s side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, they left themselves exposed defensively, and Julián Quiñones punished them with a decisive third goal to seal the 3-1 result.
Cristiano Ronaldo, marshalled throughout the contest by the hosts’ backline, registered three shots but was unable to find the net. The Portuguese forward, who has been among the Saudi Pro League‘s standout performers this season, was largely isolated as Al Qadsiah’s defensive discipline limited Al Nassr’s usually potent attack.
The defeat ends Al Nassr’s 15-match winning run in the league — a sequence that had placed them firmly in control of the title race. Despite the loss, Al Nassr retain top spot in the Saudi Pro League standings with 79 points. However, the three dropped points allow Al Hilal to re-enter contention as the campaign nears its conclusion, with the gap between the two sides now significantly more precarious than it appeared before Sunday’s result.
Al Nassr, managed by Jorge Jesus, will need to respond quickly in their remaining fixtures if they are to hold off Al Hilal and claim the Saudi Pro League title. The result at Dammam serves as a stark reminder that, despite their dominance for much of the season, the championship is far from secured. Al Hilal, who have historically been the dominant force in Saudi football, will look to capitalise on this setback in the coming matchdays.
