Summary:
In their first friendly match at the Marbella training camp, Saudi Arabian football team Al-Nassr faced
a narrow 0-1 defeat against Spanish side Granada on Sunday. The match marked the second phase of Al-Nassr’s pre-season
preparations, following a stint in Portugal where the team had a mixed record.
Match Overview: Al-Nassr, led by Portuguese coach Luís Castro, struggled to secure a victory, having only won one
of their seven pre-season games so far. Their sole win came against Marítimo with a 1-0 scoreline, while they drew
with Lusitano, Louletano, and Farense, and suffered defeats to Portimonense (0-1), Porto (0-4), and now Granada (0-1).
Team Line-up: Notably absent from the starting lineup was team captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The team featured the following
players: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Ali Lajami, Abdullah Madu, Alex Telles, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Marcelo Brozović,
Otávio Monteiro, Sami Al-Najei, Ayman Yahya, Anderson Talisca, and Saad Haqawi. In the second half, Luís Castro made two
substitutions, introducing Mohammed Maran and Sadio Mané in place of Ayman Yahya and Saad Haqawi.
Key Players and Next Steps: Al-Nassr’s squad boasts a mix of experienced and emerging talents, including
Marcelo Brozović, known for his midfield prowess, and new signing Sadio Mané, who brings a wealth of experience from
European football. The team is gearing up for the new season with two training phases, first in Faro, Portugal, and now in
Marbella, Spain. Their first official test will be against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Super Cup on August 14.
Conclusion: As Al-Nassr continues to prepare for the upcoming season, the team will look to improve on their recent
performances and find their rhythm before the competitive fixtures begin. The absence of key players like Cristiano Ronaldo
highlights the need for the team to adapt and find alternative strategies to secure wins in the challenging season ahead.
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