Al-Nassr secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 2-1 win over reigning champions Al-Ittihad, fighting back from a red card down to triumph.
Early Spark and Setback
The match ignited early when Sadio Mané volleyed Al-Nassr into the lead in the 10th minute, capitalizing on a precision cross from Marcelo Brozović. However, the celebration was short-lived. In the 25th minute, Mané was shown a red card following a dangerous challenge on Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Hamed Al-Shanqiti, confirmed through VAR.
Ittihad Rallies
Al-Ittihad didn’t waste time retaliating. Steven Bergwijn equalized in the 16th minute, cutting inside and finishing expertly after a slick assist from Moussa Diaby. Al-Nassr's dominance then dipped under tremendous pressure—but they stayed in the fight.
Felix Strikes on Debut
The clash's defining moment arrived in the 61st minute when Cristiano Ronaldo found João Félix with an exquisite through pass. Félix executed a composed finish, although the goal was almost chalked off for offside—but VAR ruled it valid. This marked Félix’s first goal for Al-Nassr since his summer move from Chelsea.
Defending With 10 Men
Despite being a man down, Al-Nassr managed to keep their cool. They registered more attempts (15 vs. 10) and a higher expected-goals (xG) value (2.32 vs. 1.44) compared to Al-Ittihad.Félix alone accounted for 1.22 of that xG, finishing with three shots—second only to Ronaldo's six. Al-Ittihad’s closest call came when Saleh Al-Shehri nodded a stoppage-time header straight at the keeper.
Al-Nassr now awaits their final opponent—either Al-Qadsiah or Al-Ahli—when the Saudi Super Cup final kicks off this Saturday. Notably, without Mané, the team will lean on its star-studded lineup and recent signings to lift the trophy.
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