Al-Nassr 1-1 Al-Hilal: Milinkovic-Savic leveller keeps champions unbeaten

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic preserved Al-Hilal’s unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season as his header earned the defending champions a 1-1 draw against Al-Nassr on Friday.

Al-Hilal dropped their first points of the season having won their first eight games, but remained at the summit of the standings, moving one point clear of Al-Ittihad.

Al-Nassr found themselves in front inside two minutes when Otavio’s clipped ball found Talisca, who took a touch before firing the ball beyond Yassine Bounou.

The first half saw clear-cut chances hard to come by, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Talisca and Mohamed Simakan seeing their efforts unable to trouble visiting goalkeeper Bounou.

Al-Hilal, who had scored 23 goals in their first eight games, came closest to an equaliser after the break when Salem Al Dawsari struck the woodwork.

But the leveller came in the 77th minute when a free-flowing move ended with Milinkovic-Savic heading the ball in off the post after being picked out by Renan Lodi’s cross.

Both sides looked to find a winner in the closing stages, with Ali Lajami coming the closest for Al-Nassr, but the points were shared at the Al Awal Park at King Saud University.

FULL TIME #AlHilal pic.twitter.com/Hd7Itu7te6

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) November 1, 2024

Data Debrief: Champions end Ronaldo streak

Ronaldo’s run of four straight games with a goal came to an end against Al-Hilal, though he was Al-Nassr’s most potent attacking threat during the encounter.

The Portugal captain registered a team-high 0.37 expected goals (xG) to Al-Nassr’s 0.9 total, while also having the joint-most touches in the opposition box (five – level with Otavio).