Al Nassr 1-1 Al Taawoun: Report, result, goals as Cristiano Ronaldo is absent again in Saudi Pro League draw

Otavio’s first goal of the season was not enough for Al-Nassr to earn a second Saudi Pro League win in five days as midtable Al-Taawoun hit back to earn a point in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo at the King Saud University Stadium.

Portugal midfielder Otavio rose expertly at the near post to power in Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem’s right-wing cross from a short corner in the 51st minute, only for Roger Martinez to fire in the equaliser from near the penalty spot 19 minutes later.

Jhon Duran spurned an excellent chance to double Al-Nassr’s lead, goalkeeper Abdulquddus Atiah denying the former Aston Villa striker in a one-on-one before making another fine save from Sadio Mane.

Al-Nassr went closest to scoring before the break when Mane sent a shot against the crossbar, but their failure to win keeps Stefano Pioli’s fourth-placed team a point behind Al-Qadsiah, with third the highest they can now finish this season.

That was Otavio’s first #RoshnSaudiLeague goal this season, but his sixth goal contribution overall pic.twitter.com/vNpLHZ937k

— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 16, 2025

Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo play for Al Nassr?

Al-Nassr have little to play for, with champions Al-Ittihad long beyond their reach and their AFC Champions League campaign ending courtesy of a 3-2 home loss against J League strugglers Kawasaki in the semi-finals on April 30.

Ronaldo was rested before the game against Kawasaki but did not directly contribute to a goal during that match or in Al-Nassr’s subsequent 3-2 home defeat against Al-Ittihad.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo missed Al-Nassr’s 9-0 win at Al-Akhdoud on Monday because of a “lack of readiness”, according to Al-Riyadh.

The newspaper also reported that former Manchester City regular Aymeric Laporte, who joined Al-Nassr from the Cityzens for £23.6 million in August 2023 but has been left out of their last two games, has been training individually because of “tensions” with manager Stefano Pioli and is considering several offers from clubs including Marseille, who sealed Champions League qualification and at least a top-three place in France on Saturday.

Good morning champs @ittihad_en #RoshnSaudiLeague pic.twitter.com/7CnuxJyd9U

— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 16, 2025

Al Nassr vs Al Taawoun

Duran – signed from Villa for £65m in January – and two-time African Footballer of the Year Mane joined Saudi Arabia winger Ayman Yahya as Pioli’s chosen starting attackers against Al-Taawoun, who will finish between seventh and ninth.

Al-Taawoun arrived on a run of one win in six games in all competitions, including two consecutive defeats in the top flight, but former Atalanta and Bologna forward Musa Barrow was lively for the visitors early on, testing goalkeeper Bento.

Fourth last season, The Wolves had gone more than four hours without scoring, suffering preceding losses to Al-Ahli and Al-Qadisiyah.

Al-Nassr are next in action in their final home game of the season on Wednesday, when they meet 10th-placed Al-Khaleej (17:10 GMT).

Al-Taawoun host the team immediately below them, Al-Riyadh, a day earlier (17:20).