Al-Khaleej 0-1 Al-Nassr: Ronaldo misfires on return as Laporte nets winner

Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension but failed to find the net as Al-Nassr secured a 1-0 win over Al-Khaleej on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte coming up with the decisive goal.

Ronaldo was in action for the first time since being sent off for an elbow in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup loss to Al-Hilal earlier this month, with his initial two-match ban being reduced to one on appeal.

He missed three good chances as Al-Nassr threatened to fall further behind runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, but former Manchester City defender Laporte spared his blushes by nodding Marcelo Brozovic’s deep free-kick into the bottom-left corner with 68 minutes gone.

Al-Nassr remain nine points adrift of Al-Hilal at the summit in spite of their win, with Jorge Jesus’ team unbeaten through 28 games this season as they close in on a record-extending 18th title.

Laporte with the much needed… look between q and e on your keyboard pic.twitter.com/SKpEmrkZZs

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 27, 2024

Data Debrief: Ronaldo misfires on return

Ronaldo was presented with the Saudi Pro League’s Player of the Month award for March ahead of kick-off, having scored four goals in three league appearances last month.

However, his sights were off on Saturday as he failed to net despite three of the visitors’ four big chances, as defined by Opta, falling his way. He led all players on the pitch for expected goals (1.27 xG), shots (five), shots on target (three) and touches in the area (nine) without reward.