The match settled after an early injury for Saad Al-Nasser, who was replaced by Salem Alnajdi in the 18th minute. That switch mattered, because Alnajdi later delivered the cross for Ângelo’s left-foot strike to make it 1-0. Moments later, Sadio Mané slipped a pass into space and Félix finished with his left for 2-0 on 40 minutes. Al-Nassr had the scoreline and the rhythm at half-time, plus a 55-45 edge in possession and a 5-2 shots-on-target count.

After the break, the hosts moved the ball even better and stayed patient. Angelo stayed influential on the right, while Mané and Félix combined well before the Portuguese forward went off on 66 minutes. The third goal came on 73 minutes from Samú Costa after a flowing move and an Ângelo delivery that Al-Hamdan cushioned into Costa’s path. Al-Nassr never lost grip of territory and tempo, and closed it out with minimal fuss.

What the numbers say

Possession finished 60-40 to Al-Nassr, and the shot count read 18-9, with 9-3 on target. Expected goals leaned the same way at 1.42 to 0.77, and expected goals on target were even more telling at 1.68 to 0.08. The hosts had 40 touches in the penalty area versus 16 for Al-Fateh, which matched the eye test as most of the game was played near the visitors’ box. Al-Nassr also pressed play high up the pitch, leading final-third entries by 57 to 38.

Service into the danger zone was better too. Cross accuracy finished 5 of 14 for Al-Nassr compared to 2 of 13 for Al-Fateh. Corner kicks went 6-4, adding to the territorial trend. Passing was a big gap at 451-304, with 390 accurate for the hosts to 243 for the away side. If you like neat summaries, Sofascore’s average team Sofascore Rating difference of 8.32 to 6.41 captured it well.

Duels, defending and the goalkeeper picture

Al-Fateh actually edged total duels by percentage at 51-49 and won more ground duels, 38 of 69. They also finished with more tackles, 19-15, and more interceptions, 12-8. But Al-Nassr answered in the air and in organization, winning aerial duels 13 of 21 and clearing danger 21 times to 16. The hosts also posted more ball recoveries, 48 to 36, which fed their steady control between the lines.

In goal, Bento made three saves and logged 0.08 goals prevented, while Al Enazi made six stops but finished at -1.32 goals prevented. The Al-Fateh keeper did produce two big saves but lived under heavy traffic, which is a tough place to be. Bento claimed two high balls that calmed things down for the back line. Free kicks were almost even at 10-11, and offsides split 3-4, further showing Al-Nassr’s aggressive line and Al-Fateh’s attempts to stretch it. The margins that typically swing tight games never materialized for the visitors.

Key moments and how the goals arrived

The opener on 37 minutes came from the right. Salem Alnajdi, on for the injured Al-Nasser, whipped in a deep cross and Ângelo met it with a crisp left-foot finish into the high-right corner. Three minutes later, Mané found Félix, who worked it onto his left and fired high for 2-0. That quick double set the tone before the interval, with Al-Nassr carrying a 2-0 lead into half-time.

In the second half, João Félix and Kingsley Coman made way on 66 minutes, with Samú Costa and Ayman Yahya entering to keep legs fresh and the press sharp. The third goal on 73 minutes followed a clean pattern on the right flank. Mané linked the play, Ângelo crossed toward the far side, Al-Hamdan cushioned it centrally and Samú Costa finished low with his right. Later changes saw Mané and Al-Hamdan come off on 77 minutes as Al-Nassr cruised through the final stretch. João Félix did pick up a yellow card on 52 minutes, while Al-Fateh’s Faisal Al Abdulwahed was booked in the third minute, but discipline never became a theme.

Match MVP: Ângelo (Sofascore Rating 8.5)

Ângelo took Player of the Match honors with a Sofascore Rating of 8.5 on a scale where 10 is perfect. The winger scored the opener, landed all three of his shots on target, and led Al-Nassr in final-third quality with three key passes. He completed 39 of 43 passes, including 3 of 4 accurate crosses, and handled 55 touches without forcing the play. His expected goals came in at 0.5748, with 0.7346 expected goals on target, underlining that his efforts were both dangerous and well struck.

Beyond the numbers, his decision-making held the right balance of risk and reward. He recovered four balls, made a tackle, and carried the ball 13 times to keep Al-Fateh on the back foot. The third goal sequence also started from his service toward the back post, showing he influenced more than just the scoreboard. Close behind, João Félix posted an 8.4 with a first-half goal and three key passes, while Samú Costa delivered a 7.8 off the bench with a composed finish. Salem Alnajdi added a 7.7 and an assist from full-back, and Mohamed Simakan’s 7.6 reflected a steady night in the back line.

What it means

Round 1 is about setting habits, and Al-Nassr paired control with end product in a way that travels. The front unit generated chances from both wings, the midfield recovered second balls, and the defense handled aerials and transitions. Al-Fateh had bite in duels and some bright individual moments but needed more clarity in the final third. With nine shots on target and a strong xG profile, Al-Nassr looked sharp and purposeful. You can dive deeper into every player’s data on Sofascore, where all the live event stats and post-match details sit in one place.