Postecoglou’s Al Nassr reign begins with shock defeat to Benfica reserves

Ange Postecoglou’s first match in charge of Al Nassr ended in a surprise 2-1 defeat to Benfica’s reserve side in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Lisbon.

The Australian, who was only recently appointed head coach of the Saudi champions, saw his new team surrender an early lead in their opening pre-season outing at their Portuguese training camp on Wednesday.

Abdulmalik Al-Jaber had given Al Nassr a fourth-minute advantage, but the Riyadh club conceded twice as the Portuguese side’s second string turned the game around.

The match was Postecoglou’s first in the dugout since replacing Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, who left his role at the end of last season after guiding Al Nassr to their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years.

Experimental line-up in star-studded squad’s absence

Postecoglou used the friendly to assess a wide range of fringe and youth players, with many of Al Nassr’s leading internationals still absent following their commitments at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With the club’s biggest names yet to rejoin the squad, the former Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur manager opted for heavy rotation as he began to shape his ideas on the team.

Despite the defeat, the run-out offered Postecoglou a first close look at his squad in competitive conditions and the opportunity to experiment with tactical options ahead of the new campaign.

Intensive pre-season schedule in Portugal

Al Nassr, known by their nickname “Al-Alami” (The Global), are in the middle of a busy pre-season programme in Portugal as they prepare to defend their domestic crown and return to Asia’s elite competition.

Their next friendly will be against Spanish side Merida on 28 July, before they face Portuguese club Estrela Amadora on 1 August. The camp will conclude with a match against Spain’s Almeria on 4 August.

These fixtures are expected to feature a gradual reintegration of the club’s international players as Postecoglou builds towards the start of the Saudi Pro League season.

Champions eye Pro League defence and Asian return

Al Nassr are targeting back-to-back league titles after finally ending a seven-year drought under Jesus last term.

The Riyadh giants will also return to the AFC Champions League Elite – the continent’s top-tier club competition – after missing out last season, when they were placed in the secondary Asian tournament.

They progressed all the way to that competition’s final before losing to Japanese side Gamba Osaka, a defeat that has sharpened focus on improving their continental record.

Now, with Postecoglou at the helm and a strong domestic and regional campaign ahead, Al Nassr’s preparations have begun inauspiciously – but the Australian coach will be judged not on a closed-door friendly in Lisbon, but on whether he can maintain the club’s title momentum at home and restore their status among Asia’s leading sides.