Al Nassr sit top of the Saudi Pro League after three games, but their 3-2 comeback win at Al-Ettifaq on August 25 was far from straightforward. Reduced to ten men in the 12th minute after goalkeeper Bento received a straight red card, the defending champions found themselves two goals down at half-time. Coach Ange Postecoglou then made the controversial decision to substitute captain Cristiano Ronaldo at the break, a move that sparked significant debate. What followed was a remarkable second-half fightback, with Sadio Mane scoring twice and Abdulilah Al-Amri adding a third to seal a 3-2 victory.

Postecoglou addressed the Ronaldo substitution directly after the match, citing the player's physical condition as the primary reason. The Australian coach acknowledged Ronaldo's frustration but kept the finer details private, noting that the Portuguese star remained a driving force in the dressing room celebrations after the win. Ronaldo is clearly working through a fitness programme to reach full sharpness following the summer break, and how quickly he gets there will shape Al Nassr's early-season rhythm.

The win leaves Al Nassr two points clear of Al Ittihad at the top of the table, with a goal difference of plus eight after scoring ten goals in three matches. That attacking output, spread across Mane, Joao Felix, Angelo Gabriel, and Al-Amri, suggests real depth in the squad even when Ronaldo is not at his sharpest. Al-Taawoun visit Al-Awwal Park on August 28, giving Postecoglou a chance to extend the lead before a testing run of fixtures ahead.