PSG vs Al Nassr-Al Hilal 5-4 – as it happened
All the updates from January 19 as they happened.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Al Nassr-Al Hilal vs PSG match on Thursday, January 19.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Al Nassr-Al Hilal vs PSG match on Thursday, January 19.
- Al Nassr-Al Hilal 4-5 PSG
- This friendly match in Riyadh was Cristiano Ronaldo’s first game in Saudi Arabia since signing for Al Nassr and is the first game featuring both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi since Juventus beat Barcelona 3-0 in December 2020.
- PSG faced a composite team of players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal, the current AFC Champions League title holders.
- Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr last month after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract estimated to be worth more than $210m per year.
- Messi plays for Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain.
It’s a wrap
This match was touted as the final occasion Messi and Ronaldo competed on the same field and boy did it deliver.
With Messi scoring just minutes into the action and Ronaldo equalising soon after, the match rocked back and forth until the nine-goal thriller was finally sealed thanks to Ekitike’s goal at the end.
Ronaldo completed a memorable debut against his old adversary, with two goals, and looks set to have a prolific career ahead with Al Nassr once he makes his Saudi Pro League debut this coming Sunday against Ettifaq.
As for Messi, he will return to France with the rest of the team, where he will look to feature in a French Cup encounter with Pays de Cassel next Monday.
Thank you for keeping us company through our live coverage of today’s match and we look forward to having you join us again soon.
#CR7𓃵 🆚 #Messi𓃵 lit up the #RiyadhSeason Cup 🤩
All eyes were on the Saudi capital Riyadh as @PSG_English beat @RiyadhSeason team to lift the trophy in front of a full house at King Fahd International Stadium 🏆🏟️#Saudi2027 | #ForwardForAsia pic.twitter.com/d1H2IjN9WM
— Saudi 2027 (@saudi2027) January 19, 2023
Still got it
🇸🇦 Cristiano Ronaldo opens his goal-scoring account in Saudi Arabia with a brace. The GOAT 🐐
Lionel Messi #RiyadhSeasonCup Rest in Peace #CR7𓃵 HERE WE GO #Messi𓃵 | #AlNassr Pulisic and Ziyech #PSGRiyadhSeasonTeam Trossard Welcome pic.twitter.com/PSrIeDO3xw
— Sports Leo Africa (@SportsLeoAfrica) January 19, 2023
PSG lift the 2023 Riyadh Season Cup
Ronaldo named Man of the Match
After picking up a brace on debut, was there ever any doubt?
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Cristiano Ronaldo is MAN OF THE MATCH! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/ln3nP9vkZu
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 19, 2023
Last glimpse of these ageing titans together?
🥲 🐐 One last GOATs dance #RiyadhSeasonCup|#CR7𓃵|#Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/SWZYiQCx0G
— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) January 19, 2023
Full-time: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 4-5 PSG
With that final shot, the match ends with an astonishing nine goals scored.
It was a fascinating encounter in all, as a 10-man PSG team were able to just come away with the victory at the end.
It is fair to say that the crowd and fans the world over were looking forward to one last battle between the two biggest stars of their generation, but ended up getting so much more.
GOAL!
Talisca decides that he isn’t quite done out there as he scores with a lovely strike from distance that beats Donnaruma’s hopeful dive to his bottom right.
90+5 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 4-5 PSG
Four minutes of stoppage time
After a bit of a delay from the fourth official, we finally have an indication that there will be four additional minutes of stoppage time.
90+2 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-5 PSG
Pereira goes for glory
The midfielder receives the ball on the edge of the box and tries to curl it past Donnaruma towards the top left, but gets too much on it.
It would have been a huge moment for the local side if they had converted there.
90 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-5 PSG
More substitutions at King Fahd Stadium
As the match nears full-time, both teams decide to make more changes.
One notable substitution is local man, Salem Al Dawsari, who comes off to polite applause.
For PSG, Vitinha’s night comes to a close.
87 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-5 PSG
Dangerous free kick awarded to Al Nassr-Al Hilal
With a reckless challenge just outside of the box on the left, the local side have a chance to once again test Donnaruma.
It is Talisca who looks to take the chance. He decides to go for glory, but the ball is sent just over the crossbar.
85 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-5 PSG
GOAL!
Hugo Ekitike, who was one of the substitutes coming on for PSG, ensures his side have a comfortable lead with a sublime effort.
After receiving the ball in a deep position, he sets off for the other end, despite his marker being hot on his tail.
The youngster bursts into the box and fires a shot past Al Owais, who had no chance.
79 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-5 PSG
Carrillo chance goes just wide
After receiving the ball inside of the box on the right, Andre Carrillo looks to position himself for an angling shot across the face of the goal.
However, he doesn’t quite get it right as the ball continues past the far post and behind for a goal kick.
76 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-4 PSG
Donnarumma continues to be tested
After coming on as a replacement for Navas, Donnarumma has had to face a couple of shots already.
However, none of them have been really threatening as they have largely come from outside of the box.
Al Nassr-Al Hilal are probing for an equaliser.
74 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-4 PSG
Al Nassr-Al Hilal more composed on the ball
After the series of changes made by both sides, the pace of the match has noticeably slowed down.
PSG look to defend their slim advantage, but should be wary of the local side as they have been stringing passes together quite well so far in this half.
69 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-4 PSG
Substitutions by both teams
Ronaldo’s evening comes to a close after picking up a useful brace.
PSG answer with some changes of their own as Navas, Messi and Mbappe are brought off, with Donnaruma coming on between the sticks.
63 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-4 PSG
GOAL!
With a cool strike to the goalkeeper’s left, Mbappe ensures PSG are in the lead once more.
60 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-4 PSG
Penalty!
An errant Al Bulayhi handball inside of the box from a Messi chance means PSG have an opportunity to retake the lead once more.
It is Mbappe who will take the spot kick.
59 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-3 PSG
GOAL!
A few minutes after Ramos puts PSG ahead, Al Nassr-Al-Hilal’s Jang answers with an equaliser.
The goal is a result of a corner taken from the right side, with Jang completely unmarked inside of the box as he heads the ball easily to the left of Navas.
57 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 3-3 PSG
GOAL!
Ramos is picked out inside the box by Mbappe and makes it 3-2 PSG.
The French international continues his good work from the left side.
After taking a moment to assess the situation, he picks our Ramos, who gets enough of a boot on it to beat Al Owais.
55 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 2-3 PSG
Mbappe effort saved
PSG has their first real attempt of this second half as Mbappe picks up the ball inside of the box on the left side and tries to beat Al Owais, who does well to get his mitts on it and turns the ball over the crossbar.
52 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 2-2 PSG
Talisca has a pop from distance
After receiving the ball on the left side outside the box, Talisca decides to have a go from range, aiming for the top right corner.
Navas is forced to make a dive to his left but the ball just clears the crossbar to go behind for a goal kick.
50 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 2-2 PSG
Al Nassr-Al Hilal win corner
After a sloppy error by Navas as he collected the ball near the touchline, a corner is awarded to the local side on the left.
Navas is called on soon after it’s taken as Jang tries to clip the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post, but the Costa Rican executes a sublime reaction save.
48 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 2-2 PSG
Second half under way
The players are back out to resume pleasantries.
The match has see-sawed quite beautifully, and hopefully there will be more of it come as we head into the final 45 minutes.
There are a couple of changes from both sides as Vitinha and Danilo come on for PSG, while the host side make a pair of changes themselves.
46 mins: Al Nassr-Al Hilal 2-2 PSG
Local fans entertained by manic first half
The 60,000-capacity stadium appears nearly full, with only a few empty seats spotted here and there.
Fans take turns chanting “Ronaldo” and “Messi.”
So far, the players have delivered, but who will be the final winner in this back-and-forth encounter?