When the Spotlight Flashes: Al Nassr's Rough Night as Al Ahli Stuns in Jeddah
2 January 2026
Match reflections
Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus admitted Al Nassr's poor display against Al Ahli Jeddah, especially in the second half, during Friday's 13th round of the Roshen Pro League.
Al Nassr lost 3-2 away, leaving them on 31 points at the top, while Al Ahli reached 25 in fourth.
Coach's take and next steps
In the post-match press conference, Jesus said the win by Al Ahli increases the title race's intensity, with three clubs in contention, and that upcoming fixtures should be exciting.
He added that they faced a respectable side, but defending in the second half was lacking; they should not have lost, and the last 20 minutes were evenly balanced.
He continued that Nassr can score, but conceding too often remains a problem; every game differs, and Al Ahli surprised us today and played well.
Jesus also stated that the club's management will implement several changes in the winter window, and that reinforcements are needed in several positions.
He closed that they will try to correct the course in upcoming matches, but are dealing with pressure and fatigue.
Punchline: If this league ran on drama, today it hit the fast-forward button.
Punchline 2: The winter window may fix the squad, but not the scoreboard—grab some popcorn.
