Al Nassr plays with one less after goalkeeper Bento's red card

Al Nassr faced Al Ettifaq on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in a Saudi Professional League match. The clash attracted great attention because of star Cristiano Ronaldo's lineup and a crucial incident early in the game, with goalkeeper Bento being sent off at the 12th minute of the first half. The duel marked the meeting of two teams that started the competition with good performances.

Early dismissal of Bento and on‑field changes

Brazilian goalkeeper Bento of Al Nassr received a straight red card just 12 minutes into the opening half. This punishment forced coach Ange Postecoglou to make a quick tactical adjustment, substituting midfielder Ângelo for reserve keeper Abdulrahman Al Otaibi at the 16th minute. With one player less, the visiting side had to reorganise defensively to contain the home team's attacks.

Cristiano Ronaldo's situation and the chase for his thousandth goal

41‑year‑old striker Cristiano Ronaldo was confirmed as starter and captain of Al Nassr for the match under coach Ange Postecoglou. Ronaldo, who had recently returned from a break after the World Cup and a brief illness, came on as a substitute in the previous game against Al Riyadh, scoring the final goal in a 4‑0 victory. The Portuguese star has 977 career goals and is looking to add 23 more to reach the historic 1,000‑goal mark.

Match statistics and Al Ettifaq's dominance

With the numerical advantage from the start, Al Ettifaq, led by coach Arthur Papas, controlled possession with 60.9% compared to Al Nassr's 39.1%. The home side shot four times, two on target, while the visitors managed only two attempts, one on goal. Al Ettifaq committed two fouls and earned one corner, whereas Al Nassr recorded four fouls and two corners throughout the game.

Teams' standings in the Saudi championship

After Tuesday's round on August 25, Al Ettifaq took provisional leadership of the Saudi Professional League with nine points from three games, boasting three wins. Al Nassr sits in third place with six points from three matches, with two wins and one loss. Al Ittihad occupies second place with seven points.

Information from BBC, The Sunday Guardian.