Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking on Thursday to fire Al Nassr to within one match of a first trophy with his new club, when they face Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh.
The Portuguese star, signed last month on a hugely lucrative contract, debuted for the capital club on Sunday, helping his team secure a 1-0 victory against Ettifaq. The win, sealed by Anderson Talisca's first-half header, lifted Nassr back top of the Saudi Pro League.
Nine-time domestic champions, Nassr take on third-placed Ittihad next in the expanded Saudi Super Cup, with the winner at King Fahd International Stadium then meeting either Al Hilal or Al Feiha in Sunday’s final.
On Wednesday night, Ronaldo posted on Instagram: "Looking forward to the big game tomorrow! Let’s go team!"
Nassr and Ittihad boast the best defensive records in this season’s top flight, with each conceding only six goals in 14 league matches. Ittihad trail the leaders by two points, with Hilal sandwiched between – although the reigning champions have played a game more.
The Saudi Super Cup previously pitched against one another the league champions and King’s Cup winners from the previous season. However, it has been extended to include the runners-up from both.
As Hilal were the 2021/22 league winners and King’s Cup runners-up, Nassr have been provided the extra spot.
Hilal and Feiha – the latter defeated the Asian champions in last season’s King's Cup final on penalties - play earlier on Thursday.
Ronaldo, 37, joined Nassr last month on a two-and-a-half-year contract reportedly worth more than $200 million per year. The Portugal captain, the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s football, was a free agent having left Manchester United in November.
Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and comfortably the highest-profile player to ply his trade in the Saudi league.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
