Cristiano Ronaldo remains a free-kick master - but Karim Benzema can't catch a break: Saudi Pro League winners and losers as title race takes yet more twists

Ronaldo and free-kicks has not always been a happy marriage. Despite possessing one of the best dead-ball techniques the game has ever seen, and having one of the most iconic approaches to the ball whenever he stands over a set-piece, his record when it comes to converting free-kicks is mixed, at best.

On Saturday, though, Ronaldo reminded everyone just why he should remain one of the most feared players in the world when given the chance to stand over a dead ball. With Al-Nassr having pulled their game with Damac back to 1-1 thanks to an Anderson Talisca free-kick, Ronaldo stepped up himself from 25 yards and lashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner for his 11th league goal of the season.

The goal proved to be the winner as Nassr made it 11 victories from their last 12 games in all competitions and moved to within striking distance of Pro League leaders Al-Hilal ahead of a favourable run of fixtures.

Karim Benzema has had a mixed time since joining Al-Ittihad in the summer, and perhaps his whole spell in Saudi Arabia thus far was summed up in Friday's draw against Al-Taawoun.

The game presented the chance for Ittihad to leapfrog Taawoun in the table, and they made a strong start as Benzema opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for his fourth league goal of the campaign.

However, his joy did not last long, as the Ballon d'Or winner proceeded to head into his own net just four minutes later, and though the veteran striker largely had a good game, that there were no more goals meant that his error proved to be the difference between winning and dropping more points.

The defending champions are winless in their last three league games, leaving them fifth in the table and six points off the summit after just 10 games. Pressure, then, continues to build on manager Nuno Espirito Santo, whose team selections have come under the microscope during this recent poor run.

Al-Hilal will have been cursing the news out of South America during the international break as their star man and most-expensive summer signing, Neymar, suffered a season-ending injury, with his absence having the potential to ruin their title challenge.

For now, however, they remain top of the table and the only unbeaten team in the Pro League through 10 matches thanks to the goals of Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose winner against Al-Khaleej was his eighth in all competitions since arriving from Fulham.

It has been reported that Mitrovic was not, in fact, Hilal's first-choice when it came to adding a new central striker during the off-season, but he has certainly wasted little time in showing what he is capable of. And with games against Al-Ahli and Al-Taawoun to come before the next international break, his club will be hopeful Mitrovic can maintain his fine early-season form.

Though they are not one of the PIF-backed clubs, pressure is on Al-Ettifaq to challenge near the top of the table given the money they spent and players they bought ahead of the campaign, but concerns are starting to grow around manager Steven Gerrard.

Monday's 1-0 loss to Al-Riyadh means it is now three games without a win for Ettifaq, who after an encouraging start to the season now find themselves down in seventh and five points off a place in the top four.

Without star striker Moussa Dembele, they were unable to create much of note in attack, and instead surrendered victory to a newly-promoted team who had previously won just one of their first nine games of the campaign. Looks like it's time to go back to the drawing board for the Liverpool legend.

Al-Ahli have been through something of a rollercoaster during the past six weeks, as wins over high-flying Al-Taawoun and defending champions (and city rivals) Al-Ittihad were mixed in with a 5-1 loss at Al-Fateh, a loss in a seven-goal thriller against Al-Nassr and a drab goalless draw against Al-Ettifaq.

It's been difficult to get a handle on quite how good Matthias Jaissle's team really are, but if they can play as they did in Saturday's 3-1 win over Al-Wehda going forward, then they have a real chance of being a true title challenger.

The majority of their summer signings were to the fore at thw weekend, as Allan Saint-Maximin, Roger Ibanez and Riyad Mahrez all got on the scoresheet, with the latter putting in a brilliant performance that was his best of the season so far.

The only concern was that both Saint-Maximim and Franck Kessie picked up injuries, and with league-leaders Al-Hilal coming up on Friday, Jaissle cannot do without two of his most important players.

Despite the bulk of Al-Ahli's players earning rave reviews this weekend, Roberto Firmino's forgettable first few months in Saudi Arabia are showing few signs of changing for the better.

The former Liverpool striker, along with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, has been the target of the fans' ire after failing to find the net since scoring a hat-trick on the opening day. And while the ex-Chelsea No.1 is starting to regain some form, Firmino still looks a shadow of the player who used to light up Anfield with regularity.

Some supporters have even called for him to be sold in the winter window, but the 32-year-old retains the backing of manager Jaissle - at least for now.