Backlines on Fire: Al-Nassr's Defenders Deliver the Finishing Touch in the Saudi Pro League
8 March 2026
Backlines Lead the Charge in the Saudi Pro League
Al-Nassr’s defensive unit has been unusually prolific this season in the Saudi Pro League 2025-2026, contributing nine goals to date and proving that defense can be a surprising source of firepower.
The latest surge came from French centre-back Mohammed Simakan, who netted the late winner against Neom SC on Saturday, sealing a crucial three points in Round 25.
Simakan's strike arrived in the fifth minute of stoppage time, delivering three precious points in a tight title race with Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The league table shows Al-Nassr on 64 points, two clear of Al-Ahli and three ahead of Al-Hilal.
Saudi outlet Al-Riyadhiah notes that four defenders have been regular starters for the club: Simakan, Nader Al-Sharari, Abdulilah Al-Omari, and Inigo Martinez, with most contributing to the scoring column, save for Al-Sharari who has appeared in five matches without a goal.
Abdulilah Al-Omari leads the group with four goal contributions, Martinez adds three, and Simakan two, underscoring an unexpectedly productive backline this season.
In a broader look at their campaign, Al-Omari earned a late penalty against Al-Fayha in round seven, converted by Ronaldo to seal a 2-1 win. He also assisted a Ronaldo goal against Al-Ahli in round 11 and scored twice against Al-Ahli in round 13, though his side fell 2-3 that day.
Martinez struck twice in the rearranged Round 10 win over Najmah (Najmah) 5-0 and added another against Al-Khudod in Round 2, contributing to wins along the way. Simakan’s first goal against Al-Khudod in Round 19 was followed by the decisive strike versus Neom, highlighting his growing influence in a defense that is suddenly a threat on the scoresheet.
Pundits note the backline’s rising contribution this season, joking that the defense is stocking the scoreboard with more headlines than the forwards lately. Punchlines follow to keep the mood light after the final whistle.
Punchline 1: When your defense starts scoring, the attackers suddenly realize their passports aren’t the only things getting stamped—sniper-level accuracy, straight into the net.
Punchline 2: If this keeps up, “defense wins championships” might become “defense scores championships”—and the goalkeepers will start collecting the match balls as souvenirs.
