New Delhi: Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, two of the Saudi Pro League’s best teams, shared the spoils in an intense 1-1 draw that saw an early goal, tactical changes, and a host of fouls as both teams fought until the final whistle. It was a matchup between the teams of two of the most high-profile players of the league, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, with only one was on the pitch, but even he couldn’t put on a convincing show for his side in front of goal, leading them to share the points.
The match began with an explosive start as Al-Nassr took the lead just one minute in. Anderson Talisca continued his good recent form found the net with a composed right-footed shot from the center of the box after being set up by Otávio, who played a clever ball through to create the chance. This early strike gave Al-Nassr a crucial advantage and immediately put pressure on Al-Hilal to respond.
Al-Hilal soon began pushing forward in search of an equalizer, with Malcom and Salem Al Dawsari proving threats in Al-Hilal’s attack. Al-Hilal came close when Al Dawsari fired a shot from the left side of the box, which just missed the target towards the end of first half. Al-Hilal’s pressure ultimately paid off in the second half as they leveled the score in the 77th minute. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed home from close range, assisted by a pinpoint cross from Renan Lodi, who worked the ball in from the left.
⌛️ || Full time,@AlNassrFC 1:1 #Alhilal
Talisca ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/x978lVSmJA— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 1, 2024
It was a closely contested affair with flares flying from both sides and both teams saw several yellow cards in an increasingly physical contest. Otávio, Ali Al-Bulayhi, and Nasser Al-Dawsari all received bookings as the tension mounted, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané also found themselves in the referee’s book earlier in the match for aggressive tackles.
Al-Nassr tried to regain their lead, with attempts from Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic in the closing stages, but Al-Hilal’s defense held strong. The hosts made a series of substitutions around the 83rd minute, bringing on Ayman Yahya, Ali Lajami, and Mohammed Marran to add fresh energy to their lineup. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s manager, Jorge Jesus, made tactical changes, substituting Renan Lodi and João Cancelo for Moteb Al-Harbi and Hamad Al Yami to bolster the defense.
The nine minutes of added time proved intense, with each side fighting for every ball. Both teams created late opportunities but failed to break the deadlock. Ali Lajami missed a close-range header for Al-Nassr, while Al-Hilal nearly capitalized on a corner in the 90+7th minute. Koulibaly and Marran’s fouls in the final moments underscored the physical nature of the game, and ultimately, the referee’s final whistle sealed the 1-1 draw.
Why wasn’t Neymar playing?
Neymar wasn’t on the field in thematch against Al Nassr on November 1 due to league registration rules. Under these regulations, teams are limited to ten foreign players in their 25-man squad. Due to his injury absence, Neymar wasn’t included in Al Hilal’s roster of non-Saudi players, with Brazilian full-back Renan Lodi registered in his place after joining from Marseille in January 2024.
This restriction meant Neymar, who had recently turned 32, would not be able to participate in Saudi league games until the January registration window, when Al Hilal could amend their squad list to re-include him if they adjusted their foreign player count. However, Neymar isn’t sidelined entirely; he remains eligible for the AFC Champions League, which follows different regulations.
His first opportunity to play in this season’s AFC Champions League could come on November 4, when Al Hilal face Esteghlal. While the Brazilian star awaits his league debut, he has the chance to make a significant impact in the continental competition as Al Hilal aim to advance. Until January 2024, fans would have to wait to see Neymar in Saudi Pro League action.
