Al-Nassr faces league leader Al Ittihad Wednesday in a Saudi Pro League match at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh. The contest pits third place Al-Nassr against first place Al Ittihad, with eight points currently separating the two clubs in the standings.
Al Ittihad sits atop the table with 68 points from a 21-5-3 record as the season nears its conclusion. Al-Nassr trails with 60 points, holding an 18-6-5 record. A win for Al-Nassr is necessary to reduce the gap and keep their title aspirations alive with five games remaining after this fixture.
The match is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET. Fans can watch Al Nassar vs Al Ittihad action on television via FOX Deportes and Fox Sports 2. Streaming options are also available for the encounter.
The fixture features two former Real Madrid teammates and prominent forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo for Al-Nassr and Karim Benzema for Al Ittihad. Ronaldo leads the league with 23 goals in 27 appearances, while Benzema has scored 18 goals in 26 matches for Al Ittihad. Their individual scoring prowess adds attention to the matchup.
For Al-Nassr, Salem Al-Najdi and Jhon Duran are unavailable due to yellow card accumulation resulting in suspensions. Al Ittihad coach Laurent Blanc will assess the fitness of Predrag Rajkovic and Steven Bergwijn who have been dealing with injuries. Defender Ahmed Sharhili is expected to return to the Al Ittihad squad for the match after medical clearance..Al-Nassr has been in strong form at home, winning their last two games in Riyadh. Al Ittihad, however, has struggled recently in away fixtures, failing to win in their last four matches on the road since mid-February.
The coaching matchup features Stefano Pioli managing Al-Nassr against Laurent Blanc for Al Ittihad. The outcome of this match will affect both teams' positions and the broader title race also involving second-placed Al-Hilal.
Al-Nassr vs Al Ittihad marks a key point in the 30-round Saudi Pro League calendar.
