Al-Hazem – Al-Nassr: can Ronaldo continue his scoring spree?
Al Hazem
Al-Hazem and Al-Nassr were scheduled to meet on November 6 in the 13th round of the Saudi Pro League. However, there is an important detail surrounding this fixture: on November 3, the league organizers announced that the entire round had been postponed. A new date for the match has yet to be determined. Therefore, this is a preliminary analysis of the clash that was originally scheduled for this week.
Al-Hazem
The current season has been a difficult one for the hosts. After 12 matches, the team has collected 10 points and sits 14th in the standings. The statistics are not particularly impressive either: 14 goals scored and 20 conceded. Defensive problems are especially evident, with the back line regularly allowing opponents to create dangerous chances.
Al-Hazem have not won any of their last five league matches, recording two draws and three defeats. In the previous round, the team suffered a 2-4 defeat to Al-Khaleej. Before that came a 2-2 draw with Al-Fayha, as well as defeats to Al-Hilal (0-1) and Al-Fateh (2-3). It is hardly the most encouraging run ahead of a meeting with one of the strongest clubs in the country.
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Al-Hazem's main problem is the lack of reliability in their defensive line. The team can score goals and create chances, but holding on to an advantage is far more difficult. Against Al-Nassr, such mistakes could prove particularly costly, as the visitors know how to punish almost every lapse in concentration.
That said, the hosts should not abandon their attacking approach altogether. Al-Hazem need to make the most of quick transitions from defense to attack and look for counterattacking opportunities. If they can exploit the space behind the visitors' defenders, they will have a chance to find the net.
Al-Nassr
Ange Postecoglou's side have entirely different objectives. Al-Nassr remain in the title race and have collected 28 points from 11 matches, placing them near the top of the standings. The team have recorded nine wins, one draw and just one defeat. Their goal difference stands at 28:11.
The attacking numbers are particularly impressive. Al-Nassr score more than two goals per match on average, while their frontline features players capable of deciding a game almost single-handedly.
Cristiano Ronaldo deserves a special mention. The Portuguese star continues to produce at an outstanding rate and scored a hat-trick in the latest league match against Al-Kholood. Al-Nassr won the encounter 5-3, with Ronaldo taking his tally for the season to nine goals.
However, on November 2, the Portuguese forward was rested for the AFC Champions League match against Pakhtakor. Al-Nassr still looked highly convincing without him, cruising to a 6-2 victory. Joao Felix scored twice, while Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Angelo also found the net. In other words, the team's attacking firepower is not limited to Ronaldo alone.
At the same time, it would be wrong to say that the visitors have no problems at all. Conceding eight goals across their last few league and continental matches shows that the defense does not always operate flawlessly. However, given Al-Nassr's attacking capabilities, these shortcomings have not yet proved critical.
What should we expect from the match?
The head-to-head record is almost entirely in Al-Nassr's favor. According to the statistics from their league meetings, the team have recorded 13 wins, drawn four times and lost to Al-Hazem on three occasions. The last meeting between the sides, in February 2026, ended in a dominant 4-0 victory for Al-Nassr over Al-Hazem.
In my view, the favorite in this matchup is quite clear. Al-Nassr have the edge in terms of individual quality, goalscoring output and current form. The hosts, meanwhile, are struggling badly in defense and have gone five matches without a win.
Of course, home advantage may give Al-Hazem a boost, but relying solely on the support from the stands will not be enough against an opponent of this caliber. The visitors do not even need to go at full throttle from the opening whistle: it should be enough to control possession, gradually unlock the defense and rely on the individual quality of their attacking players.
I expect Al-Nassr to enjoy more possession, create more dangerous chances and ultimately secure a fairly comfortable victory. Al-Hazem are quite capable of scoring once, but stopping the visitors' attacking machine will be extremely difficult.
My prediction: over 3 total goals.
