The Saudi Pro League eye is sharply directed to Al-Nassr who is about to face Al-Shabab in a match that potentially can make the careers of both clubs. After being the runaway leaders, Al-Nassr are now struggling to get through uncertainty, lack of consistency, and increasing pressure as the season approaches the critical stage.
Their primitive structure presupposed history making. A ten game winning streak in the league positioned them squarely on top and put them a step far ahead that not many would have thought they could keep. That force has since been drained out. Their position in the top seven at the top was revealed by a wage of familiar weaknesses by a 3-1 loss to the league leaders that stretched their losing streak to four games.
This loss put light on current problems. Al-Nassr was in the lead just before the half time but disintegrated after the break, allowing them to concede twice at the penalty spot before a goal at the end of the period decided their destiny. Although the title race cannot be mathematically concluded, there is practically no room to spare.
Al-Shabab, on the other hand, come with the fresh faith. Theirs has been a season of survival as opposed to ambition as they have been hanging on the verge of the relegation zone. The 3-2 victory in their previous game was a welcome fillip and it has made them just escape threat. The two goal performance of Yannick Carrasco also acted as a reminder that there is still some quality in the squad.
The build-up is dominated with selection uncertainty. The club will have to do without a number of suspended players and an international tournament that is in progress will further reduce choices available to Al-Nassr. Nevertheless, despite such disappointments, Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to appear. What is critical is his availability, not to goals but to leadership.
Having scored 15 goals in the league, Ronaldo is the top scorer and most stable in the Saudi Pro League and in Al-Nassr. With suspicion lingering over him, his capability of performing again could be the determining factor whether trust would be regained–or stress would intensify further.
