Al-Nassr can go above Al-Hilal against Al-Kholood tonight, and Des Buckingham’s side have lost four in a row
Ange Postecoglou’s side have not played since their 3-1 win at Al-Faisaly, and the Saudi league has now confirmed Ronaldo’s disputed goal from that game. Al-Kholood arrive in Riyadh on a four-match losing run.
Oct 29, 2026
Al-Nassr have not played since last Friday. Their AFC Champions League Elite game against Al Wasl was called off on Sunday, and in the meantime Al-Hilal won 3-2 at Al-Qadsiah to go two points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Ange Postecoglou’s side can change that tonight. Al-Kholood visit Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, kick-off is at 11:30pm IST, and a win would put Al-Nassr on 28 points, one above Al-Hilal, who do not play again until Saturday.
Whether that means first place depends on another game. Al-Qadsiah are level with Al-Nassr on 25, having played once more, and they kick off at Al-Riyadh at the same time. If both teams win, they will be level on 28.
Four straight wins against four straight defeats
Al-Nassr have won eight of their ten league games, and their only defeat came against Al-Ittihad. They go into this one on a run of four wins in all competitions, the latest a 3-1 win at Al-Faisaly last Friday.
Al-Kholood are going the other way. They were unbeaten in their first six league games, with three wins and three draws, and then lost the next four: 2-0 at Al-Riyadh, 5-0 at home to Al-Qadsiah, 3-2 at Al-Faisaly and 3-0 at home to Al-Ettifaq on Saturday. That is 13 goals conceded in four games, and they sit ninth on 12 points.
Their coach will be a familiar name to ISL fans. Des Buckingham led Mumbai City to the 2022-23 League Winners’ Shield with a record 46 points before leaving for Oxford United, and he has been at Al-Kholood since August 2025. His side have never beaten Al-Nassr. In four meetings they have three defeats and one draw.
Ronaldo’s 982nd goal stands
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal at Al-Faisaly has taken the best part of a week to settle. His header from a João Félix free-kick early in the second half went in off defender Andrei Girotto, and Opta and other data providers logged it as an own goal. The Saudi Pro League has now confirmed it as Ronaldo’s, which puts him on 982 career goals and 18 away from 1,000.
He is expected to start tonight. Postecoglou is without Sultan Al-Ghannam, who is still out with a cruciate ligament injury, while Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan are both doubtful. Coman has been back in training.
Whatever happens in Riyadh, the table could look different again by Sunday. Al-Hilal are at home to Al-Fateh on Saturday, and Al-Nassr go to Pakhtakor in the Champions League Elite on Monday before a league trip to Al-Hazem on 6 November.
The match streams live in India on FanCode.