Cristiano Ronaldo scores first half hat-trick to move Al Nassr two points clear at Saudi Pro League summit
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 25/02/2023 at 19:59 GMT
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his impressive form for the Saudi Pro League side, who moved two points clear at the top of the table after easing to a 3-0 win over Damac. The 38-year-old has now scored eight goals in his last six appearances for the club, after managing to score four times in a 4-0 win over Al-Wehda. Al Nassr are back in action on Friday when they host Al Batin.
Ronaldo scores his first Al Nassr goal
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his scintillating form for Al Nassr after scoring a first-half hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Damac in the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 18th minute after powering home a penalty into the top corner, before doubling his side's advantage with a clinical long-range effort.
He completed his treble shortly before the half-time whistle in a move instigated by Abdulrahman Ghareeb, who switched play and allowed the ball to be passed to Ronaldo, who netted the 62nd hat-trick of his career.
The 38-year-old has now scored eight goals in just six appearances for the club, after managing to score four times in a 4-0 win over Al-Wehda, which also included his 500th league goal.
Saturday’s hat-trick follows on from Ronaldo’s two assists in a 2-1 win Al-Taawoun, meaning the Portugal captain now 10 goal involvements in his last four appearances for the Saudi side.
Those three first-half goals were enough for Al Nassr to move Rudi Garcia’s side two points clear at the top of the table.
The Knights of Najd are hoping to end a run of three years without the title, as Ronaldo aims to win the eighth domestic title of his career after winning championships in England, Spain and Italy.
Ronaldo now appears to have consigned a tumultuous end to 2022 to the past following an acrimonious exit from Manchester United.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner took part in an explosively revealing interview with Piers Morgan, where Erik ten Hag, Manchester United and even Wayne Rooney came in for some stinging criticism.
Ronaldo, who won three Premier League titles with the Red Devils claims he had no respect for Ten Hag, and said the club had made zero progress since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
He said: "I don't know what's going on. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I have seen not evolution in the club. The progress was zero.
"I don't have respect for him (Ten Hag) because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."
The forward certainly seems to be happier playing out in Riyadh, but Garcia believes that Ronaldo will return to Europe.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive addition, as he helps to disperse defenders,” Garcia said. “He is one of the best players in the world.
“He will not finish his career at Al-Nassr, he will return to Europe.”
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article