Cristiano Ronaldo returns with goal as Al Nassr sweep aside Al Riyadh to go top

Al Nassr returned to the top of the Saudi Pro League with a 4-0 victory over Al Riyadh, as Cristiano Ronaldo marked his first appearance of the season by scoring in his side’s emphatic win.

The result, achieved against their city rivals at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in the Saudi capital on Friday, lifted Al Nassr to six points from two league matches. They moved above traditional rivals Al Hilal on goal difference, with Al Hilal dropping into second place.

Al Riyadh, meanwhile, suffered a second consecutive defeat and remain bottom of the table without a point.

Al Nassr took control in the 18th minute when Saudi Arabia defender Abdulelah Al-Amri headed into the net from Angelo’s corner. The Brazilian midfielder delivered the set-piece into a dangerous area and Al-Amri made no mistake with his finish.

Angelo then doubled the visitors’ advantage in the first minute of added time at the end of the opening half. Kingsley Coman’s low cross caused confusion inside the Al Riyadh penalty area, and Saudi Arabia forward Abdullah Al-Hamdan failed to deal with the ball before Angelo turned it into the net.

That advantage gave Al Nassr a commanding position, but they extended it shortly before the hour mark. Portugal forward Joao Felix collected the ball inside the box, worked his way through the area and struck a low effort that Al Riyadh goalkeeper Milan Borjan could not keep out.

Four minutes later, Al Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou sent Ronaldo on from the substitutes’ bench, replacing Al-Hamdan.

It was Ronaldo’s first involvement for Al Nassr this season. The Portugal captain had missed the club’s opening two matches: a 3-0 league victory over Al Fateh and a 4-1 win against Al-Diriyah in the last 32 of the King Cup.

Ronaldo needed only 21 minutes to make his return count. In the 83rd minute, he completed the scoring by meeting a low cross from Ayman Yahya and guiding the ball into the net with his left foot.

The goal was Ronaldo’s first of the campaign and completed a convincing performance from Al Nassr, who reclaimed first place from Al Hilal after the defending challengers to the summit had earlier occupied the lead.

For Al Riyadh, the defeat leaves them with no points after the opening two rounds and at the foot of the Saudi Pro League standings. Al Nassr’s perfect start, meanwhile, has been strengthened by a clean sheet and eight goals across their two league matches.

The fixture took place during a notable return for Ronaldo, whose absence from the club’s first two competitive matches had been closely watched. His introduction in the second half provided the evening’s final highlight, with Al Nassr securing a comprehensive derby victory and restoring themselves to the top of the table.