Five goals, a top-of-table statement: Al-Nassr steamroll Al-Fateh to lead the pack
18 October 2025
Match Recap
Al-Nassr surged to the top of the Saudi Pro League after a commanding 5-1 win over Al-Fateh on Saturday night at Al-Nassr Park, in round five of the season.
The victory propelled the Riyadh giants to 15 points, a perfect start that keeps them clear at the summit as the campaign rolls on.
Under the guidance of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, the team demonstrated the attacking flair that has defined their season so far, extending a winning run that reinforces their early-season dominance.
Key moments and notes
Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 13th minute, with Sufyan Ben Debka equalising for Al-Fateh in the 54th. Cristiano Ronaldo wasted a penalty in the 59th but answered with a stunning strike a minute later to restore the lead. Felix then completed his hat-trick with goals in the 68th and 80th minutes, while Kingsley Coman added a fourth in the 75th.
Ronaldo’s night was contrasted by Felix’s breakout scoring spree, which helped cement the Portuguese forward’s claim as a league standout. Felix’s performance earned him a seat at the top of the scoring charts, with Opta assigning him a notable rating of 9.7, while Ronaldo collected 7.2 and Coman featured strongly as well.
After the final whistle, Jesus praised his players for a deserved victory and stressed that the scoreline did not reflect any ease of the evening, pointing to the quality of Al-Fateh’s work. He highlighted Abdullah Al-Khubri’s intelligent and rugged midfield contribution and praised several domestic players, including Ayman Yahya, Abdulrahman Al-Omari, and Nawaf Boshel, for their impact and depth in the squad.
Jesus also reiterated his preference for the Saudi league over broader continental competitions, noting that domestic success remains his primary focus for the moment. He affirmed that the league title is paramount and that the team will chase glory across all fronts, but the league is a priority in the early stages of the season.
On the Fath side, coach Jose Gomes acknowledged the challenge of facing a team of Al-Nassr’s caliber, admitting that gaps in quality and physicality were evident. He added that it is tough to control the rhythm against a side of such depth and, when queried about a post-match flare between players, described the incident as a family matter to be resolved within the club.
The night truly belonged to Joao Felix, whose hat-trick underscored his burgeoning influence in the league. Felix’s three-goal haul this season solidified him as the league’s leading scorer, and his high Opta rating reflected a standout performance across the board. The team’s overall performance, coupled with a high-scoring win, left Ronaldo and the rest of the lineup celebrating a return to form.
The win also set up a packed run of fixtures that will test Al-Nassr’s squad depth in the coming weeks, including key AFC Champions League 2 matches and domestic league clashes, all while aiming to maintain their grip on the league table.
Two light notes to close: Felix’s performance was so clinical the ball filed a complaint for unfair advantage, and the scoreboard’s shadow is the only black mark tonight—everything else pointed to a red-hot start for the season.
Closing thoughts
As the schedule tightens, the team will need to balance fatigue and focus, but for one night at least, Al-Nassr wrote another confident line in the season’s opening chapter.
Punchline 1: Felix’s hat-trick was so sharp the net filed a formal complaint for excessive contact with the back of the goal.
Punchline 2: The only black spot on the night is the scoreboard’s shade—everything else was pure gold for Al-Nassr’s fans.
