Al Nassr quickly established control, enjoying 59.4% possession and outpassing the hosts 494 to 345, with a pass accuracy of 88.5%. The breakthrough came in the 7th minute as João Félix finished off an assist from Ângelo Gabriel. The first half ended 1-0, but Al Nassr accelerated after the break.
Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead in the 54th minute from the penalty spot. One minute later, Kingsley Coman headed home a third, assisted by Nawaf Al Aqidi. Félix continued his remarkable debut, scoring in the 67th minute after a setup from Sadio Mané and completing his hat-trick in the 87th minute.
Al Taawoun struggled to create chances, registering only four shots (one on target) compared to Al Nassr’s 21 (10 on target). Al Nassr’s defense remained solid, with Nawaf Al Aqidi making five saves, while Al Taawoun’s Abdulquddus Atiah was kept busy throughout.
This result extends Al Nassr’s strong head-to-head record against Al Taawoun, marking their 16th win in 26 meetings. It also sets the tone for the season, with new signings João Félix and Kingsley Coman making instant impacts. Al Nassr will look to build on this momentum as they continue their push for the league title.
For more details and full match statistics, visit BBC Sport – Saudi League and GOAL.com: CR7’s up and running! Cristiano Ronaldo scores and Joao Felix bags hat-trick.