Cristiano Ronaldo watches from stands as Al Nassr begin SPL title defence with win

Cristiano Ronaldo watched the Saudi Pro League season opener from the stands as Al Nassr began their title defence with a 3-0 victory over Al Fateh. Angelo Gabriel and Joao Felix scored in the first half, while Samu Costa netted the winning goal in the 73rd minute, marking Al Nassr's 300th league win. Ronaldo had recently rejoined training after the World Cup and his marriage to Georgina Rodriguez, so he did not participate in the match.

After the win, Costa expressed his gratitude to his team and Ronaldo by dedicating the victory to all three. Costa stated, "A good start. We worked hard and deserved the three points. I dedicate the victory to my family, my teammates, and Cristiano Ronaldo."

For Al Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou, this win held significant importance. The Australian manager, tasked with elevating the team to new heights, was pleased with the opening result and highlighted the team's spirit, particularly in Ronaldo's absence. "The most important thing now is recovery, especially as we have only two days after this match, and afterwards we will determine the decision on the players’ participation according to their readiness," Postecoglou remarked in his post-match press conference.

Previously, Al Hilal started their season with a 4-2 win over promoted Al Faisaly, with Ruben Neves scoring twice and receiving the player of the match award. Neves acknowledged the team's strong performance but indicated that there is still room for improvement, particularly in avoiding conceding two goals at home.