Al-Nassr crumble to Al-Ittihad comeback despite Sadio Mané’s early brilliance

Al-Nassr’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a significant blow after they squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Al-Ittihad, despite a standout display from Sadio Mané.

The Senegal international appeared to be the driving force behind Al-Nassr’s early dominance.

He needed just three minutes to open the scoring, clinically finishing to hand his side the advantage.

Mané turned provider shortly after, laying off a precise assist for Yahya to double the lead in the 37th minute — marking his 14th goal and 14th assist of the season.

By half-time, Al-Nassr looked in full control. But the second half told a different story, as the visitors — current leaders of the Saudi Pro League — mounted a rapid and ruthless comeback.

Karim Benzema halved the deficit in the 49th minute, before N’Golo Kanté struck just three minutes later to draw Al-Ittihad level.

The decisive blow came deep into stoppage time.

With the final whistle looming, Houssem Aouar completed the turnaround in the 94th minute, leaving the Al-Nassr players stunned and the home fans in disbelief.

It marks a second consecutive disappointment for Stefano Pioli’s side, coming just days after their Asian Champions League exit at the hands of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.

The defeat to Al-Ittihad now sees Al-Nassr drop to fourth in the Saudi Pro League standings, overtaken by Edouard Mendy’s Al-Ahli, who secured a 2-0 victory over Al-Taawoun.

With only four matches remaining in the campaign, the race for third place — and the coveted Champions League qualification spot — has intensified.

Al-Nassr now trail Al-Ahli by a single point, placing pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo, Mané, and their teammates to deliver a flawless run-in.

While the fixture list ahead may be manageable, the psychological damage of such a collapse at home could linger.

For Sadio Mané, who has maintained strong form throughout the season, the individual milestones may offer little consolation if Al-Nassr fails to secure a return to continental competition.

What appeared destined to be a statement victory for the Riyadh club has instead become a painful reminder of how quickly fortunes can change — and how critical every point is in the closing stages of the title race.