Sadio Mané, the Senegalese winger for Al-Nassr, has conveyed his sadness over the expulsion of his former teammate, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho Tavares of Al-Ittihad, during the classic showdown between the two Saudi football giants on Tuesday.
Mané showcased his brilliance by scoring two outstanding goals in the night of Al-Nassr’s triumph over Al-Ittihad with a resounding 5-2 victory, settling the long-awaited classic encounter from the 17th round of the Saudi Professional League.
Fabinho received a red card and left the field after earning his second yellow for a foul against Al-Nassr’s Portuguese player, Otávio, inside the penalty area in the 66th minute.
Speaking after the classic, Mané remarked, “Fabinho is one of my best friends from our time together at Liverpool, and he was my neighbor in the city.
Playing against him was not easy for me, and unfortunately, he received a red card, which makes me sad for him.”
Addressing the game’s progression, Mané acknowledged that Al-Nassr struggled in the first half but significantly improved in the second, playing well and scoring goals.
He emphasized the importance of avoiding errors similar to those in the classic encounter.
Mané concluded by commenting on Al-Nassr’s challenging start in the first two rounds, impacting their current standing.
He emphasized their commitment to winning all the remaining matches.
Al-Nassr currently holds the second position in the Saudi Professional League standings with 43 points from 18 matches, securing 14 victories, one draw, and suffering three defeats.
