Al Nassr’s defensive problems deepen despite victory over Abha

Al Nassr’s 2-1 win over Abha in the sixth round of the Roshn Saudi League has failed to disguise a growing weakness at the back, with the club now struggling to keep clean sheets on a consistent basis.

The victory was Al Nassr’s fourth consecutive match in which they conceded at least one goal. The run has raised concerns over the team’s defensive organisation and placed pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou to find a solution quickly.

Al Nassr have conceded six goals across those four matches, against four different opponents. They allowed two goals against Al Ettifaq, two against Al-Ittihad, one against Al-Taawoun and one against Abha.

The spread of those goals suggests the issue is not confined to a single poor performance or caused by one particular opponent. Instead, the Saudi club have repeatedly failed to prevent their opponents from finding the net, including in matches they have gone on to win.

That represents a clear change from the start of the season. Al Nassr kept clean sheets in their opening two games, against Al Fateh and Al Riyadh, but that defensive solidity has gradually disappeared as the campaign has progressed.

Conceding has now become a regular feature of their matches, with the team increasingly relying on its attacking strength to compensate for mistakes and weaknesses in defence.

Goalkeeping changes add to concerns

The uncertainty has not been limited to the defenders. Postecoglou has used three goalkeepers during the current season: Brazilian Bento Matheus, Nawaf Al-Aqidi and Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi.

Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi has made only one appearance, against Al Ettifaq, after Bento was sent off. The changes in goal, alongside alterations in the defensive line, may have contributed to a lack of continuity at the back.

However, responsibility ultimately rests with the defensive unit as a whole. Al Nassr must improve the way they deal with transitions and attacks rather than continually depending on their ability to outscore opponents after errors in defence.

The problem could become more costly in the next stage of the season, when Al Nassr face more demanding fixtures against leading clubs, including Al Hilal and other sides competing for major honours.

In matches against the strongest opponents, there is often little room for defensive mistakes. If Al Nassr continue to concede regularly, their attacking quality may not be enough to protect them from dropped points when the margins are smaller.