PSG vs Al Nassr-Al Hilal Saudi All-Star XI: Match Highlights and Key Updates
Riyadh Showdown: Ronaldo's Saudi Debut and PSG's Dominance
Pre-Season Friendly Thrilled Fans in Saudi Arabia
On Thursday, January 19, the much-anticipated friendly match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and an All-Star XI from Saudi clubs Al Nassr and Al Hilal took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This highly-publicized event marked Cristiano Ronaldo's first game in Saudi Arabia since signing for Al Nassr.
The starting lineups for both teams showcased a blend of world-renowned talent and rising stars. PSG fielded an impressive lineup featuring Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, while the Saudi All-Stars were led by Ronaldo and other notable players like Salem al-Dawsari and Talisca.
The match started with a flurry of chances for both sides. Ronaldo had an early opportunity to open the scoring but saw his shot saved by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Messi and Mbappé were also dangerous for PSG, creating several scoring opportunities.
PSG took the lead in the 39th minute when Juan Bernat slotted home after a clever pass from Messi. However, PSG's joy was short-lived as Bernat was sent off for a red card shortly after, leaving his team with 10 men.
The Saudi All-Stars took advantage of the extra man in the second half and equalized through Ronaldo's penalty kick in the 45th minute. The Portuguese forward added another goal in the 53rd minute to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Despite being down to 10 men, PSG fought back and scored two quick goals through Mbappé and Sergio Ramos in the 57th and 60th minutes, respectively. Ronaldo completed his brace in the 64th minute, but PSG sealed the victory with a late goal from Ekitike in the 89th minute.
The final score was 5-4 in favor of PSG, with Ronaldo's Riyadh All-Stars putting up a valiant effort against the French giants. The match provided fans with a glimpse of the high-quality football that can be expected in Saudi Arabia's top-flight league in the future.
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