Match story
- Al Khaleej Saihat fired more attempts (18 vs 8 shots).
- Damac was more accurate in front of goal (50% on target vs 39%).
- Al Khaleej Saihat held more of the ball (53% possession).
Damac defeated Al Khaleej Saihat 0-2 in Pro League. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 8 stage in the 2023 season. The match was played at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam. Mohammed Al Hoaish officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Al Khaleej Saihat vs Damac meeting in Pro League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Al Khaleej Saihat and Damac. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Pro LeagueRecorded meetings: 3 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
⚽ Trump, half-time show and everything but football – live⚽ Match gallery | Golden Boot | Follow on TikTok | Mail usYou can also follow the build up on our news blog, which contains photographtic proof that things are livening up in NYC“One of the big questions for those of us in the UK is how to watch the final,” writes David Wall. “For all that has been made about ITV’s coverage with their New York studio and one of two excellent pundits, I think their coverage has been less than the sum of its parts, as usual. They’ve not had people other than the commentators in the stadiums so all that studio showed was that it was quite windy in New York sometimes. Continue reading...
David Beckham's penalty knocked Argentina out of the World Cup at the group stage in 2002, four years after his sending off against the same country. Mirror's chief sports writer Andy Dunn recalls the game
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League journey has been filled with high-profile rivals, but one of the league’s most creative playmakers has now decided to move on. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League journey has been filled with high-profile rivals, but one of the league’s most creative playmakers has now decided to move on. As the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to lead Al-Nassr’s ambitions, Konstantinos Fortounis has brought his Saudi Arabian chapter to an end, closing the door on a memorable spell that saw him emerge as one of the competition’s standout creators. The departure marks the end of a rivalry that often flew under the radar. While Ronaldo and Al-Nassr chased trophies at the top of the table, Fortounis built a reputation as the driving force behind Al-Khaleej’s attack, producing numbers that placed him among the league’s most effective midfielders. After two seasons in Saudi Arabia, Fortounis has officially left Al-Khaleej, ending a successful stint that exceeded many expectations. The Greek playmaker joined the club in August 2024 and quickly became the focal point of its attacking play. His final season was particularly impressive. Across 30 league appearances, he scored 10 goals and delivered 12 assists, helping Al-Khaleej remain comfortably clear of any relegation concerns while consistently creating opportunities for teammates. The midfielder’s influence extended beyond raw statistics. He was recognized as one of the league’s most creative players and even collected the Saudi League Player of the Month award in October 2025 after a series of standout performances. Emotional return to familiar surroundings The mystery surrounding Fortounis’ next destination was finally solved when Olympiacos announced the return of the club legend on a free transfer. The move represents a homecoming for a player who spent a decade building a remarkable legacy with the Greek giant. Before leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2024, Fortounis had already secured his place among Olympiacos’s greatest modern players. He captained the club to the historic UEFA Europa Conference League triumph in 2024 and departed after one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Καλώς ήρθες σπίτι σου Κώστα! ✍🏻🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/N47UoPp2Hk— Olympiacos FC (@olympiacosfc) June 2, 2026 Olympiacos FC’s official statement read: “Olympiacos FC announces the acquisition of Kostas Fortounis, two years after the magnificent moment when, as captain, he lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League.” The statement also highlighted his extraordinary contribution during his first spell. “Fortou wore the ‘red and white’ jersey with No. 7 on the back and returns to the Thrylos, with whom he made 343 appearances from 2014 to 2024, scoring 94 goals and 106 assists.” Saudi Pro League loses one of its best creators The Greek veteran leaves the Saudi Pro League after establishing himself as one of the league’s elite playmakers. During his two seasons with Al-Khaleej, he accumulated 20 goals and 17 assists, impressive numbers for a player operating on a side outside the division’s traditional powerhouses. His final campaign also featured an intriguing battle with Al-Nassr star Joao Felix. While Felix finished with 13 assists compared to Fortounis’s 12, the Greek midfielder pushed him all the way in the race to be the league’s leading creator. Joao Felix ends the season 🔝 of the assist chart in his #RoshnSaudiLeague debut season 🇵🇹🤝 pic.twitter.com/gcadY1Ri2t— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 25, 2026 For Ronaldo and Al-Nassr, the departure means one less established rival in the Saudi Pro League. For Olympiacos, it means the return of a club icon. And for Fortounis himself, it marks an emotional reunion with the team where he built his legacy and where he now hopes to write another successful chapter.
With reports linking Pep Guardiola as the next coach, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr announced the departure of Jorge Jesus. No sooner had Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated Al Nassr‘s 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title than the club was dealt a significant blow, with Jorge Jesus confirming his departure. While reports have surfaced linking Pep Guardiola as a potential successor, Al Nassr has now officially announced the end of Jesus‘s one-year tenure. Jesus’s arrival had been closely tied to Ronaldo’s own influence at the club following the forward’s contract renewal in June, with the Portuguese coach later revealing that Ronaldo’s personal involvement was a key reason he took the job. Despite the success they achieved together, Jesus’s contract ran its course and his decision to move on appears to have been made well in advance of the final announcement. The possibility of a one-year extension had been on the table, at least from Al Nassr’s perspective. Club president Abdullah Al-Majed acknowledged “ongoing attempts to convince Jorge Jesus to stay,” and a salary increase was reportedly offered as part of the renewal pitch, but no agreement was ultimately reached. Al Nassr‘s official account marked the occasion with a video tribute. “He arrived taking on the challenge… and he leaves us as a champion,” the club wrote, paying tribute to the SPL triumph that bookended his single season in charge. What a journey. What a chapter. 🏆💛Obrigado, Mister 🙏🏼#ChampionStateOfMind pic.twitter.com/kVKSnRXkRX— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 28, 2026 “Thank you, Jesus, for everything you have given to your club, Al Nassr… And you will always remain a lover of, and beloved by, the Nassrawi fans,” the message concluded. Jesus, who has been linked with clubs including Fenerbahce, Brazilian sides and even the Portugal national team, has since indicated he will spend time in Rio de Janeiro before deciding his next move. Across his 49 games in charge, Jesus compiled a record of 40 wins, two draws and seven defeats, averaging an impressive 2.49 points per game, establishing himself as one of the most successful coaches in the club’s history and breaking the 7-year trophy drought. Ronaldo was the driving force of that era, contributing 30 goals and five assists in 37 appearances to finish as the top scorer under the Portuguese manager. Is a Pep Guardiola arrival at Al Nassr feasible? As speculation about Jesus’s replacement gathered pace, Pep Guardiola quickly emerged as one of the headline names, having already confirmed his departure from Manchester City. Reports from Saudi newspaper Al-Youm went as far as claiming that Al Nassr had offered Guardiola an annual salary of $150 million, which would make him the highest-paid manager in the history of the sport. Speaking to Saudi media outlet Okaz, Guardiola‘s representative Josep Maria Orobitg confirmed that contact had been made but stopped well short of describing it as a serious offer: “There was a contact a month and a half ago, just a contact, without any commitment or written offer. There was also a contact with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation about 15 days ago, but there will be no further contacts for the moment.“ When pressed specifically on the reported salary figures, the representative was dismissive. “The amount mentioned is not true,” he said, while not denying that conversations had taken place. “At the moment, neither Al Nassr nor the Saudi Arabian Football Federation have great opportunities to sign Guardiola. Pep will not sign for any club or team right now. There are already a large number of interested clubs and teams, but all of this is being discussed for the future,” he added. Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City. With Ronaldo’s Al Nassr contract running through June 2027, only one season remains before a potential retirement announcement at age 42. Planning for the 2026-27 campaign is already underway, but landing Guardiola as the club’s next head coach appears to be a far more co
Latest reports suggest Ronaldo’s role inside the club could become even more influential moving forward. Cristiano Ronaldo finally delivered the moment Al-Nassr had been waiting for since his arrival in Saudi Arabia. After years of pressure, near misses, and growing scrutiny surrounding the project in Riyadh, the Portuguese superstar lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy following a dramatic title-winning campaign that restored the club to the top of Saudi soccer. The celebrations after the decisive 4-1 victory over Damac were emotional across the club, but behind the scenes, attention quickly shifted toward what comes next. With Jorge Jesus stepping away after fulfilling his mission and Al-Nassr entering a new phase, major decisions are expected to shape the project’s future. Jesus confirmed his departure immediately after securing the championship, ending a successful but relatively short spell in charge of the Riyadh side. The veteran Portuguese coach arrived with one clear objective: to help Ronaldo and Al-Nassr end their long wait for the league title. Jorge Jesus leaves after completing his mission Al-Nassr finished the campaign with 86 points, narrowly ahead of fierce rival Al-Hilal, to secure the club’s first Saudi league championship since 2019. The title also gave Ronaldo his first major domestic trophy in Saudi Arabia after several frustrating seasons. Following the final match, Jesus openly admitted that the mission had always been temporary. “I accepted this challenge only because I told Cristiano: ‘I will help you become champion, we will win the trophy, and then I will leave.’ That’s it. For me, the mission is complete,” the Portuguese coach said after the Damac victory. The statement immediately sparked speculation about the future direction of Al-Nassr. Although the coach announced his intention to leave, the club hierarchy reportedly moved quickly to try to change his mind. Club president Abdullah Al-Majed publicly confirmed that Al-Nassr wanted Jesus to remain in charge. “We will do everything possible to keep Jesus because he has made a significant difference,” Al-Majed explained in a televised interview. Ronaldo tried to convince Jesus to stay Reports from Saudi media later revealed that Ronaldo himself became heavily involved in efforts to keep the coach at the club. According to the Arabic electronic platform winwin, the Portuguese forward already knew before the final game that Jesus intended to leave once the title was secured. Ronaldo reportedly asked Jesus to stay for another season in order to preserve stability inside the project, but the coach refused despite receiving a massive renewal offer from Al-Nassr. The two figures are said to have held a private meeting before the final match against Damac. During that conversation, Jesus reportedly reminded Ronaldo of the promise he made when taking over the team. “Jesus held a meeting with Ronaldo before the last match against Damac, and told him that he must lead the team to victory in the match and win the title as he promised him, and then he will leave,” winwin reported. The same report added that Jesus informed Ronaldo he would never coach another Saudi club in the future and believed it was the correct moment to walk away after achieving success with Al-Nassr and previously leaving a mark with Al-Hilal as well. Ronaldo’s new role revealed The biggest revelation, however, arrived shortly afterward as the latest reports suggest Ronaldo’s role inside the club could become even more influential moving forward. According to 365Scores Arabic, Ronaldo will be involved in helping Al-Nassr choose the club’s next head coach. The report also claimed that the Portuguese superstar is considering several options, including a world-class Portuguese manager capable of continuing the project’s momentum. This move exemplifies how central the 41-year-old has become to the club’s sporting direction since arriving in Saudi Arabia. His influence already transformed Al-Nas
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