Al-Nassr and Al-Taawoun have named their starting sides for their meeting at the King Saud University Stadium on Friday.
The reigning champions are the only team in the Saudi Pro League to have won each of their first three matches of the season.
Al-Taawoun have two points after drawing 0-0 at home to Al-Khaleej and Al-Fayha either side of a 3-2 defeat at Al-Kholood.
Home boss Ange Postecoglou and visiting counterpart Zarko Lazetic are starting their first campaigns as managers in Saudi Arabia.
The Knights are in the building ⚔️💛 pic.twitter.com/y1hUUrO4w4
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 28, 2026
Al Nassr confirmed team vs Al Taawoun
Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento is suspended after being sent off against Al-Ettifaq, so Nawaf Al-Aqidi deputises.
New midfielder Samu Costa starts again, having made his full debut in the 3-2 league win at Al-Ettifaq on Tuesday.
Left-back Saad Al-Nasser is out with an ankle injury but defender Mohamed Simakan has recovered from a minor muscle strain and replaces Inigo Martinez, who moves to the bench.
Al-Nassr starting XI: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Salem Al-Najdi, Samu Costa, Angelo, Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, Cristiano Ronaldo
Al-Nassr substitutes: Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi, Nader Al-Sharari, Inigo Martinez, Abdulmalik Al-Jaber, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Sami Al-Najei, Ayman Yahya, Rakan Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah Al-Hamdan
Al Taawoun full line up vs Al Nassr
Al-Taawoun make two alterations from their draw with Al-Fayha, bringing in centre-back Zineddine Belaid, who signed from Algerian side JS Kabylie for a reported fee of more than £1 million this month, and winger Parfait Guiagon, who reportedly cost around £1.7m from Slavia Praha last week.
Wideman Parfait Guiagon, who arrived this week from Charleroi for a fee said to be around £3.7m, is a substitute.
Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi moves to the bench and on-loan Rangers midfielder Nedim Bajrami is not involved.
Al-Taawoun starting XI: Mailson, Zineddine Belaid, Awn Al Saluli, Muteb Al Mufarrij, Bassam Al Hurayji, Aschraf El Mahdioui, Oscar Dorley, Marin Petkov, Mohammed Al Aqel, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Younes El Bahraoui
Al-Taawoun substitutes: Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi, Parfait Guiagon, Saif Rajab, Bassem Al Arini, Rakan Al Tulayhi, Adeeb Al Hassan, Abdulrahman Al Ghamdi, Mohammed Al Saedi, Abdulrahman Hindi
Where to watch Al Nassr v Al Taawoun: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 19:00 BST (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT).
Live coverage in the UK is on the Saudi Pro League YouTube channel.
In the US, FOX Sports are the Saudi Pro League live broadcasters.
For different territories, visit the Saudi Pro League broadcaster page.
Al Nassr v Al Taawoun: Saudi Pro League stats, form
- Al-Nassr are unbeaten in six Saudi Pro League meetings with Al-Taawoun (W4 D2), including a 1-0 home win in January and 5-0 away victory last August in the teams’ most recent encounters
- They dropped seven points in their preceding three matches against these opponents, conceding equalisers in 1-1 draws in the top flight the previous season and losing 1-0 at home in the King’s Cup last 16 in October 2024
- That was the second time Al-Taawoun had avoided defeat in successive meetings with Al-Nassr, previously achieving the feat in 2010
- Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored in any of his three home games against Al-Taawoun, although he has netted twice against them away
- Joao Felix scored a hat-trick on his Saudi Pro League debut in that 5-0 Al-Nassr on the opening day of last season, with Ronaldo adding a penalty and Kingsley Coman also netting
- These teams first met in February 1987 and have never shared a 0-0 draw in their 46 matches against each other
- Former Al-Nassr and Al-Taawoun forward Mohammed Al-Sahlawi’s 10 goals in the fixture make him the top scorer in games between the teams
- New Al-Taawoun signing Abderrazak Hamdallah is the next-highest marksman, with nine goals in the fixture during the former Morocco international’s prolific spell with Al-Nassr between 2018 and 2021
- Al-Taawoun’s last league win against Al-Nassr was a 2-0 away victory in August 2023. Each of their preceding five victories against these opponents had been at home, since a 2-1 away triumph in 1996
- They took the fifth-most away points (27) in last season’s Saudi Pro League behind Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ahli, who were also the only teams to better their total of eight wins on the road in the division
