Matchday 12 of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) delivered notable developments as Al-Qadsiah briefly claimed the top spot before being overtaken by Al-Hilal, while Cristiano Ronaldo continued his pursuit of a significant scoring milestone.
Ronaldo was the standout performer in Al-Nassr’s 5-3 win over Al-Kholood, netting a hat trick that brought him closer to 1,000 career goals. This marked his 11th "perfect hat trick," with a goal scored using each foot and the head—another testament to his enduring ability. Fellow Portuguese international Joao Felix also made a significant impact, contributing four assists in the game, becoming only the second player in SPL history to reach this number in a single match. Felix now has eight assists and three goals in nine league appearances this season.
Al-Ahli’s recent resurgence was halted dramatically with a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Shabab. The loss was exacerbated by an early red card for goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, which left the team struggling for the remainder of the match. Coach Marino Pusic, who had eased some pressure on himself following four consecutive league wins, now faces renewed scrutiny. Post-match, Pusic apologized to fans and expressed frustration at questions about his job security—a sign the coaching position may be under threat. The team’s ongoing absence of striker Ivan Toney, who appeared in a London court on assault charges, continues to impact the squad. Toney has scored 13 league goals so far this campaign, and his availability remains critical for Al-Ahli’s future results.
Al-Hilal maintained their momentum with a 2-0 home victory against Al-Fateh, their fifth consecutive league win. Goals from Ollie Watkins and a penalty converted by Ruben Neves secured the points. The result came four days after a 3-1 away loss to Qatar’s Al-Shamal in the AFC Champions League Elite. Coach Simone Inzaghi’s strategy of resting key players in the continental competition reflects his focus on prioritizing the league, understanding that just finishing in the top eight of the group will be sufficient for progression. With title rivals Al-Nassr, Al-Qadsiah, and Al-Ittihad close behind, maintaining strong home form is essential in a tightly contested race.
Al-Qadsiah quickly rebounded from a previous defeat against title contenders with a commanding 6-0 victory over Al-Riyadh, keeping them within two points of the league leaders. Dutch midfielder Tijani Reijnders was a notable contributor, scoring three goals and now tallying eight goals in 10 league matches since his summer move from Manchester City. Coupled with forwards Mateo Retegui and Julian Quinones, Al-Qadsiah have a potent attacking lineup but may face challenges due to a lack of Asian competition experience compared to some rivals.
Meanwhile, Al-Taawoun secured a 1-1 draw away to Al-Ittifaq, a modest result that leaves them bottom of the table without a win in 12 games. Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah scored for the visitors, moving to 160 league goals—just one shy of the record held by Omar Al-Somah, who reached that mark in more appearances. Hamdallah’s ongoing scoring ability is seen as key to Al-Taawoun’s hopes of avoiding relegation this season.