Al-Nassr have turned their form around with a 4-1 victory over Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League’s 16th round on Friday.
With a 3-1 defeat to Al-Hilal in the previous round and a 1-1 draw with Istiklol in the AFC Champions League, Al-Nassr were looking to get back to winning ways.
The Yellows were handed a boost before the game as Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the starting lineup after getting rest during the week.
Despite that, Al-Nassr needed some time to find their rhythm in the opening minutes against a defensively resolute Al-Riyadh side.
The hosts, however, managed to take the lead after 31 minutes as Ronaldo fired Al-Nassr into the lead with an improvised finish off of Sadio Mane’s cross.
Having scored the first goal, Ronaldo turned into the provider before half-time as the Portuguese’s cross found Otavio’s diving header to double Al-Nassr’s lead in stoppage time.
After the break, it was time for Anderson Talisca to get on the scoresheet as the forward found a pocket of space and calmly slotted past Al-Riyadh’s Martín Campaña in the 67th minute.
Former Burnley centre-forward Andy Gray pulled one back for Al-Riyadh just seconds after conceding to try and get his side back in the game.
However, the hosts got their fourth of the night in added time through Talisca as the Brazilian completed his brace with a 93rd-minute bullet header.
The victory will boost Al-Nassr’s morale ahead of their tough away encounter in the King’s Cup quarter-finals against Al-Shabab on Monday.