Almeria outshines Al Nassr in preseason match, with Ronaldo scoring a brace but ultimately falling short of victory
Almería Stuns Al Nassr in Preseason Friendly
In a thrilling 2025 preseason encounter, UD Almeria demonstrated a spirited, competitive strategy to defeat Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Nassr 3-2 at the Mediterranean Games Stadium. The match, marked by early goals and a standout performance from Cristiano Ronaldo, served as a reminder of the importance of defensive lapses and even intensity for Al Nassr as they prepare for the Saudi Pro League season.
The contest began with Almeria capitalizing on a defensive lapse, as Sergio Arribas, a former Real Madrid academy product, scored the opening goal in the 6th minute. Al Nassr responded swiftly, with Ronaldo equalizing with a headed goal in the 17th minute and another penalty kick in the 39th minute. However, Almeria's resilience and tactical discipline refused to be overshadowed.
Before halftime, winger Adrián Embarba scored a powerful shot to level the match once more, setting the stage for a tense second half. Almeria's energy in the second half forced errors, leading to Embarba's second goal in the 61st minute, which sent the stadium into a cauldron of noise.
Key elements of Almeria's strategy and performance included aggressive and sharp attacking from the outset, refusing to be overwhelmed despite Ronaldo and other big names on the pitch, and maintaining team cohesion and defensive solidity to absorb pressure after going behind and then hitting back with composure.
Sergio Arribas and Adrián Embarba were standout players for Almeria, with Arribas opening the scoring and Embarba contributing the crucial equalizer going into halftime. The team collectively showed determination and tactical discipline to consistently threaten Al Nassr’s defense and capitalize on mistakes.
While Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a standout individual performance with a brace for Al Nassr, his efforts were not enough to overcome Almeria’s cohesive team play and timely goals that secured the victory. This result highlighted Almeria’s effective preparation and tactical execution in their preseason schedule against a high-profile opponent.
This win for Almeria is more than a preseason footnote as they aim for a return to La Liga under manager Pepe Mel. For Al Nassr, the loss is a reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee control, and they will need to address defensive lapses and uneven intensity before the Saudi Pro League season begins.
In the midst of their preseason schedule, Almeria displayed an impressive defensive strategy against European-leagues opponent Al Nassr, as evidenced by their 3-2 victory in a friendly match. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning performance for Al Nassr, it was the Spanish side's tactical discipline in sports like football, particularly in defense, that enabled them to capitalize on opponents' mistakes, as demonstrated by Sergio Arribas' opening goal.
