The Riyadh Derby lived up to its billing on Tuesday night, but for Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr the 1-1 draw at Alawwal Park carried a heavy sense of what might have been, leaving the Portuguese superstar dejected. Al Nassr remained at the summit of the table as a result of the stalemate but they were also denied the opportunity to officially wrap up the title race. With the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season rapidly approaching its absolute conclusion, every remaining second is now a high-stakes calculation for the Riyadh giants.
The Current Standings Of Saudi Pro League
Following the dramatic draw, the summit of the league is locked in a tense standoff:
- 1st: Al Nassr – 83 points (33 matches played)
- 2nd: Al Hilal – 78 points (32 matches played)
Al Nassr lead by five points but crucially Al Hilal have a game in hand. With 34 matches left in the season, the maths has tightened up a lot.
Scenario 1: Al Nassr Clinches the Crown
Al Nassr have one remaining fixture, a home clash with Damac FC on May 21.
- The Win: If Al Nassr win they would be on 86 points. Al Hilal can only reach a maximum of 84 points (if they win their remaining two games against NEOM SC and Al-Fayha) so a victory for Ronaldo’s side guarantees the title.
- The Draw: If Al Nassr draw they end up on 84 points. That leaves the option for Al Hilal to potentially force a tie if they win their remaining games.
- The Loss: If Al Nassr lose they remain on 83 points, which means Al Hilal would only require two wins to leapfrog them and claim the title with 84 points.
Scenario 2: The Tiebreaker Headache
Al Nassr draw their last match and Al Hilal win their last two matches and both teams will be on 84 points. Head-to-head points is the first tiebreaker in the Saudi Pro League. The two league meetings between these two this season have finished in draws so the tiebreaker would be overall goal difference. Al Nassr are currently ahead of Al Hilal by +60 to +55 and the ‘Blue Waves’ will need comfortable wins in their remaining matches to snatch the title on goal difference.
What Happened In Al Nassr vs Al Hilal Match?
Al Nassr and Al Hilal played a tense 1-1 draw in the Riyadh Derby on Tuesday night. Kingsley Coman’s cross set up Mohamed Simakan’s header to put Al Nassr ahead in the 37th minute. With the game entering the final minute, Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento erred and scored an own goal to give Al Hilal a late equaliser.
Debayan Bhattacharyya is a seasoned sports journalist and digital media professional, currently serving as the Chief Sub Editor at ITV Digital (NewsX). A true Football-Fanatic Bong, his professional journey began at Zee Media, where he kicked off his career as a Sub-Editor for the sports team at India.com and CricketCountry. His ability to blend insightful analysis with rapid-fire news delivery soon led him to Times Network, where he served as a Senior Copy Editor for Times Now. Before his current role at NewsX, Debayan spent a significant tenure at OneIndia’s MyKhel as a Senior Sub Editor.
