Ronaldo preparing for the Saudi classico.

RIYADH, Feb 12: Al-Ahli is gearing up to host Al-Nassr in a highly anticipated classico that will ignite the 20th round of the Roshn Professional League today at Al-Inma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah.

Al-Ahli is currently fifth with 38 points, trailing third-place Al-Nassr and fourth-place Al-Qadisiyah, both tied at 41 points. Their first-leg encounter ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a fierce rematch.

Al-Ahli aims for a crucial victory to close the gap on the league leaders, while Al-Nassr is determined to keep pace with title contenders Al-Hilal (47 points) and Al-Ittihad (49 points). A win for Al-Nassr would strengthen its push to break into the championship race and avenge its first-round draw with Al-Ahli at First Park Stadium.

However, Al-Nassr faces a challenging hurdle: its inability to extend a winning streak beyond four consecutive league matches this season. Under Italian coach Stefano Pioli, the team has repeatedly failed to secure a fifth straight victory, and momentum has stalled after four consecutive wins.

So far, Al-Nassr has won 12 of its 19 league matches, but each time it reaches a four-game winning streak, it falters in the next match. This time, Al-Ahli stands in the way, and Al-Nassr is eager to break the cycle.

Pioli’s first winning streak began after taking over from Portuguese coach Luis Castro, leading Al-Nassr to victories over Al-Ettifaq, Al-Wahda, Al-Arabiya, and Al-Shabab before being held to a dramatic 3-3 draw against Al-Khulud. The question now is whether Al-Nassr can finally overcome its streak-ending jinx and claim a vital win against Al-Ahli.