Portuguese soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix confront Jorge Jesus in their home country.
Al Nassr Prepares for Two Friendlies Ahead of the 2025/26 Season
Al Nassr, the Saudi Arabian football club, is gearing up for two friendly matches as part of their pre-season build-up. The team will face Rio Ave from the Portuguese Liga on August 7 or 8, 2025, followed by a match against Almería in Spain [1][4].
The upcoming friendlies will feature key players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, and Sadio Mané. Ronaldo, at 40 years old, continues to be a central figure for Al Nassr, both on and off the pitch. His leadership and commitment during preparation have been evident [1][2][4]. Félix, a new signing this summer, will be looking to make his mark alongside the legendary Portuguese star.
Jorge Jesus, the 71-year-old coach of Al Nassr, is overseeing the team's training sessions. The focus has been on building cohesion and form ahead of the competitive season. The recent friendly loss to Estrela da Amadora has raised some concerns about the team's readiness, but the upcoming matches against Rio Ave and Almeria provide opportunities to improve and finalize tactics [1].
The friendly against Rio Ave will take place at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal, marking an important step in Al Nassr's preparation for domestic competitions. Ronaldo and Félix played together during a training session at the City of Football in Oeiras, Portugal, which was observed by the team [1].
It's worth noting that Al Nassr has already played two friendly matches this pre-season. The team secured a 5-2 win over TSV St. Johann on July 26, but Ronaldo and Félix did not play in this match [1]. Their most recent friendly saw them win against Toulouse with a score of 2-1, with a goal from the Madeiran striker echoing his famous 'Siii' [1].
The team is currently training in Portugal under the guidance of coach Jorge Jesus. The training sessions have been focused on the partnership between Ronaldo and Félix, as the duo looks to make an impact in the upcoming friendly matches and the 2025/26 season [1][2].
[1] Source: Al Nassr official website [2] Source: Portuguese media outlets [4] Source: Local Portuguese newspapers
Al Nassr's pre-season preparations include a friendly match against Portuguese sports club Rio Ave, which plays in Europe's leagues, specifically the Portuguese Liga. The upcoming Laliga match against Almería in Spain is also part of the Saudi Arabian football club's friendly schedule before the 2025/26 season.
