| Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad | |
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MATCH INFO |
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MATCH :
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Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad
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COMPETITION :
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Saudi Super Cup
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| DATE: |
19-08-2025
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TIME:
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05.30 PM IST (UTC +5:30)
04.00 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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Hong Kong Stadium
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Al-Ittihad vs Al-Nassr: Saudi Super Cup Preview
The 2025 Saudi Super Cup brings together two giants of Saudi football, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, in a clash rich with recent history and high stakes.
Tournament Background
The competition was originally set to feature the winners and runners-up of the 2024–25 King Cup and Saudi Pro League. However, with Al-Ittihad clinching both titles, the extra place was handed to the league’s third-placed side.
When Al-Hilal later withdrew due to their participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, their spot went to the fifth-placed team, with fourth-placed Al-Qadsiah already qualified through the King Cup.
Al-Ittihad Team News
This will be Al-Ittihad’s fifth appearance in the Super Cup, having lifted the trophy once in 2022 before finishing runners-up in 2023. They dominated last season’s league meetings with Al-Nassr, winning 2-1 and 3-2, bouncing back from consecutive defeats in 2023–24.
Despite their pedigree, their pre-season form raises questions, with defeats to Fenerbahce, Fulham and Portimonense, and only one win against Portuguese side Leiria.
For this fixture, goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic misses out with a muscle injury, while Hassan Kadesh remains a doubt. Up front, the spotlight is once again on Karim Benzema, who netted 21 goals last season and was pivotal in their domestic double.
Al-Nassr Team News
Al-Nassr make their seventh Super Cup appearance and second in succession, having finished runners-up last season after a 4-1 defeat to Al-Hilal. The Global One are two-time winners of the competition and qualified this year thanks to Al-Ittihad’s double triumph.
Jorge Jesus’s men enjoyed a solid pre-season, recording victories against SK St. Johann, Toulouse and Rio Ave, though they closed with a setback against Almeria.
Defensively, new arrival Iñigo Martínez is expected to continue alongside Abdulelah Al-Amri in central defence. In midfield, Sami Al-Najai remains unavailable with an ACL injury.
The star attraction remains Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in devastating form with six goals in his last three matches, including a hat-trick against Rio Ave and a brace versus Almeria. He will be central to Al-Nassr’s hopes of lifting the trophy.
Key Battle
With Benzema leading Al-Ittihad’s attack and Ronaldo spearheading Al-Nassr, this Super Cup showdown promises a marquee clash between two legendary forwards, with silverware and bragging rights on the line.