Al-Nassr denied title glory by late Al-Hilal equaliser

Al-Nassr were forced to delay their Saudi Pro League title celebrations after being held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by Al-Hilal at Al-Awwal Park, with a stoppage-time own goal from Bento denying them a crucial victory.

A win for Al-Nassr would have stretched their lead at the top of the table to eight points, effectively sealing the league title and delivering a first championship in the Cristiano Ronaldo era.

However, the draw ensures the title race remains open, with Al-Hilal still in contention and holding a game in hand.

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Al-Hilal nearly made an early breakthrough inside four minutes, but Karim Benzema was denied by Bento.

The French striker later had a goal ruled out for offside after finishing a Sergej Milinković-Savić cross.

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Al-Nassr took the lead eight minutes before half-time when Mohamed Simakan reacted quickest to a loose ball from a Marcelo Brozović corner, volleying confidently into the bottom corner.

The hosts came close to extending their advantage before the break, with Kingsley Coman striking the post, while Cristiano Ronaldo also missed a key opportunity early in the second half.

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Al-Hilal pushed forward strongly after the interval, knowing a draw would keep their title hopes alive. Following Ronaldo’s substitution, Al-Nassr’s defence eventually cracked in the final moments.

A long throw into the box created chaos, and Bento turned the ball into his own net after an unfortunate collision with teammate Íñigo Martínez.

The result leaves Al-Hilal with a chance to close the gap when they face Neom in their game in hand on Saturday, setting up a tense finish to the Saudi Pro League title race depending on Al-Nassr’s final results.