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The highly anticipated Saudi King’s Cup round of 16 match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad was played on October 28, 2025, at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
In a thrilling Riyadh derby, Al-Ittihad won 2-1, eliminating Al-Nassr from the competition despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half. This result marked revenge for Al-Ittihad after their 2-0 league defeat to Al-Nassr just a month earlier, on September 26, 2025.
14′: Al-Ittihad attacked first on a quick counterattack. Moussa Diaby’s pass found Karim Benzema, who calmly fired a left-footed shot into the top corner, beating Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento.
29′: Al-Nassr equalized after a quick counterattack. A precise pass from Cristiano Ronaldo set up Ângelo Gabriel for a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner.
45+2′: Just before halftime, Houssem Aouar restored Al-Ittihad’s lead, latching on to a through ball from Mario Mitaj and finishing accurately with his right foot.
49′: Drama erupted early in the second half when Al-Ittihad’s Ahmed Al Julaydan was sent off with a straight red card for a reckless aerial challenge on Aiman Yahya, leaving his team a man down.
Despite their numerical advantage, Al-Nassr failed to open the scoring. Kingsley Coman missed a clear chance from Ronaldo’s cross around the 55th minute, and efforts from Sadio Mané and Ronaldo (a header that sailed over the bar) in the closing minutes fell flat. Six minutes of stoppage time failed to produce an equalizer.
The match was tense, with early yellow cards for Fabinho (9′, foul on João Félix) and Abdullah Al Khaibari (13′, foul on N’Golo Kanté), as well as a brawl that ended with bookings for Aouar and Mohamed Simakan (37′).
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr): He played the full 90 minutes but had a frustrating night. He provided a precise assist for Ângelo’s goal, but only managed 5 shots (1 on target), 19 of 23 passes (83% accuracy), 1 chance created, and no successful dribbles or crosses. A long-range shot was saved early in the match, and he missed a one-on-one in the second half (possibly due to offside).
Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad): He scored the winner with his first goal in the 14th minute. His precise finish set the tone. He almost scored again in the 5th minute, but Predrag Rajković saved the ball at the other end. He replaced Steven Bergwijn in the 75th minute.
Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad): Scored the decisive goal and was instrumental in midfield, although he was booked for his involvement in a first-half brawl. He was substituted in the closing minutes (88′).
Ângelo Gabriel (Al-Nassr): Brilliant in the equalizer, demonstrating his finishing ability. Notable saves from both goalkeepers: Rajković (Al-Ittihad) denied Ronaldo and Al Khaibari, while Bento (Al-Nassr) was beaten twice but was otherwise solid.
For Al-Nassr: The shock home exit is a crushing blow, extending their Copa del Rey drought to 35 years (last win: 1990).
It’s the second consecutive season they’ve fallen in the round of 16, calling into question their knockout mentality despite a dominant league campaign (unbeaten in 10 matches, holding a 3-point lead).
With that behind them, the focus turns to defending their Saudi Pro League title and AFC Champions League Two, now their only title hopes. Coach Jorge Jesus’ defensive solidity (just 2 goals conceded in 6 wins) was put to the test, but their offensive profligacy proved costly.
For Al-Ittihad: A morale-boosting victory catapults them into the quarterfinals, demonstrating resilience under pressure with 10 men for over 40 minutes.
It eases frustrations in the league (they’re in mid-table after the September defeat) and highlights the impact of stars like Benzema and Aouar. However, the red card underscores the disciplinary issues, with multiple bookings.
Greatest rivalry: In the Benzema vs. Ronaldo saga, this gives Ittihad bragging rights in the cup, contrasting with Nassr’s advantage in the league. Fan reactions at X were filled with memes about Ronaldo’s “curse” in Saudi Arabia (no major trophies since joining the club in 2023) and celebrations of Ittihad’s drive.
This derby encapsulated the star power and unpredictability of the Saudi Pro League: Al-Ittihad’s counterattacking efficiency and defensive determination overcame Al-Nassr’s dominance of possession (62%) and numerical superiority, proving that quality in finishing wins matches.
For Ronaldo, it’s another chapter without trophies (no major title under Nassr, including defeats in three finals according to some fan data), fueling debate about his adaptation to high-stakes Saudi football.
Al-Nassr must regroup quickly to prevent a Copa del Rey hangover from derailing their title fight, while Ittihad’s momentum could spur a turnaround. Ultimately, it reinforces the competitiveness of the league, where galacticos clash, but execution decides derbies.
