Al Ittihad's Late Combeback Over Al Nassr Brings Closer To Saudi Arabia's Pro League Title

Al Ittihad is getting closer to achieving the title of the Saudi Arabian Pro League (Saudi Pro League) after a successful comeback against Al Nassr on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Houssem Aouar scored in the last minute to help Al Ittihad rise and secure a 3-2 win over Al Nassr. The result brought them one step closer to winning the title of the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

With time going on, league leaders are demonstrating the fighting spirit that has determined their season to claim three points at Al townal Park.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring for the home team after three minutes with a low shot, when the game had only been running for three minutes.

The Senegal international then helped Ayman Yahya to change the position to 2-0 for Al Nassr in the 37th minute. The goal was approved after VAR's review even though the ball had touched Mane's hand in the process of a goal.

Al Ittihad became a better team after the break. Karim Benzema narrowed the gap with his header in the 49th minute.

Laurent Blanc's team equalized with a counter-attack, which was ended by N'Golo Kante who put the ball into the Al Nassr goal.

Algerian international Aouar then scored a winning goal in injury time from close range after receiving a cross from Moussa Diaby, who got a red card after the final whistle sounded for being involved in a fight after the game.

"Our secret is that our team has very character. We played very, very great, especially in the second half."

"The first half was too shy. We played too shy, not as a team, not as a winning team."

"Then, we showed that we had a lot of characters," Aouar said after the game.

With four games remaining, Ittihad six points ahead of its closest rival, Al Hilal, who remained in second place after a tense night at Al Raed, which Salem Al Dawsari's hat trick earned them a 5-3 win.

The second major league trophy in three seasons feels closer than ever to the Jeddah club, which was able to win a domestic doubles title as they competed in the King Cup final at the end of this month.

Former Real Madrid striker and France National Team Benzema have scored their 19th league goals this season to put him in third place alongside Abderrazak Hamdallah and Julian Quinones.

"Our friend (Benzema), he led us a lot. At the start of the second half, we scored two goals. This gave us hope."

"Then, yes, as I said, we have never given up since the start of the season. We scored a lot of goals in the right time."

"Today, once again, so thank God," said Aouar as quoted by The National.

For Al Nassr, who was strengthened by Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now in fourth place with 60 points, the defeat was a setback after their hopes of reaching the Asian Elite Champions League final this season ran aground.

In addition, their participation in the Asian Elite Champions League next season is also on the brink. You see, only the top three teams in the Saudi Arabian Pro League standings are entitled to the ticket.

The situation is quite complicated. Al Expert qualified as Champions League champion Asia Elite this season on Saturday, May 3, 2025. However, they are also in third place in the Saudi Arabian Pro League standings.

Although Al Nassr could push up to third place, shifting the Expert, they still can't qualify for the Asian Elite Champions League next season.

Except, Ronaldo and colleagues can throw Al Hilal out of the top three of the standings with four games remaining.

Meanwhile, Al Ittihad is now firmly at the top of the Saudi Arabian Pro League standings with 71 points, followed by Al Hilal (65 points), Al Expert (61 points), and Al Nassr (60 points).