Al-Nassr are preparing to face Al-Ahli in a Saudi Pro League meeting that carries the feel of a title test, with the league leaders trying to extend a 19-match winning run and protect a home record that has been almost flawless. The game arrives with a small but notable selection concern for Jorge Jesus, who may be forced to alter his back line after Inigo Martinez was limited in training because of minor muscle discomfort.
Al-Nassr sit top of the table, while Al-Ahli remain close enough in the top three to keep the pressure on. The hosts have won 13 of their 14 league matches at home, scored 79 goals and conceded 21, and Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix continue to drive the attack. Those numbers have made them the division’s benchmark, but Al-Ahli have already shown they can hurt them, winning 3-2 earlier in the campaign.
Martinez had initially been included in discussions for the matchday squad, but his participation in training has been restricted, and a final call was expected only after a medical evaluation. Local reports said he is likely not to play against Al-Ahli, with Jesus leaning toward Angelo Gabriel instead as he looks for full flexibility in his foreign player selection. That leaves Al-Nassr weighing whether to stick with the defensive shape that has fuelled their surge or adjust for a high-stakes opponent that has already beaten them once.
The backdrop is what gives the fixture its edge. Al-Nassr have been relentless since that earlier 3-2 loss, and their numbers suggest a side that has found a level few in the league can match. But the injury doubt around Martinez is a reminder that even a team in this form still has to manage the details carefully, especially against an Al-Ahli side capable of punishing any lapse.
For Jesus, the decision on Martinez is more than a lineup call. It is a test of how much he is willing to compromise balance for certainty, with one of the season’s biggest domestic fixtures waiting and the top of the table still within reach of the challenger across from them.