Thu Jan 08 18:30:00 UTC 2026: ### Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr Stumbles, Title Hopes Dim After Shock Loss to Al-Qadsiah
The Story:
Al-Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat to Al-Qadsiah on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Al-Awwal Park, significantly impacting their Saudi Pro League title aspirations. Despite dominating possession and creating more chances, Al-Nassr succumbed to second-half goals from Julián Quiñones and Nahitan Nández. A late penalty converted by Ronaldo provided a glimmer of hope, but Al-Nassr failed to equalize, leaving them four points behind league leaders Al-Hilal. The loss highlights Al-Nassr’s struggles to convert dominance into goals and exposed defensive vulnerabilities.
Key Points:
- Al-Nassr lost 2-1 to Al-Qadsiah.
- Julián Quiñones and Nahitan Nández scored for Al-Qadsiah.
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty for Al-Nassr.
- Al-Nassr remains second in the Saudi Pro League, four points behind Al-Hilal.
- Goalkeeper Al-Aqidi made a crucial error leading to Al-Qadsiah’s first goal.
- Al-Qadsiah moved up to fourth position.
Key Takeaways:
- Al-Nassr’s title challenge is now significantly more difficult due to this unexpected defeat.
- Individual errors, particularly from goalkeeper Al-Aqidi, proved costly for Al-Nassr.
- Al-Qadsiah demonstrated tactical effectiveness in securing a victory despite having less possession.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, despite scoring, was unable to inspire his team to a positive result.
- Al-Nassr’s earlier strong form has waned as the season has progressed, allowing Al-Hilal to capitalize.