Inigo Martinez Nears Absence as Al-nassr Vs Al-ahli Looms

Inigo Martinez is in serious doubt for al-nassr vs al-ahli after minor muscle discomfort limited his training time ahead of the Saudi Pro League match. Jorge Jesus is due to make a final call after a medical evaluation, with Angelo Gabriel emerging as a possible replacement in the foreign player quota.

Martinez and the medical check

The 34-year-old defender has not had a clean run into the game. His discomfort has restricted his participation in training, and that has pushed his place in the matchday squad into doubt.

Arriyadiyah reported that the Spaniard is likely to sit out against Al-Ahli, and Jesus is leaning toward selecting Brazilian Angelo instead of the veteran. That would leave Al-Nassr with a different defensive setup for a match that carries far more weight than a routine league night.

Al-Nassr's unbeaten surge

Al-Nassr enter the fixture top of the Saudi Pro League and on 19 consecutive wins across all competitions. They have also won 13 of their 14 league matches at home, while their season figures stand at 79 goals scored and 21 conceded.

Those numbers set the context for the selection call. A team that has built its run on control and output now faces a top-three opponent that has already beaten it 3-2 earlier in the campaign, and the margin for error is thinner if Martinez is unavailable.

Al-Ahli's earlier edge

Al-Ahli remain firmly in the top three and are still positioned as a real challenge to Al-Nassr's title push. Their 3-2 win earlier in the campaign is the sharpest reminder that this meeting has already produced a result that can shape the race at the top.

For Al-Nassr, the next step is simple: wait for the medical evaluation and then see whether Jesus keeps faith with a veteran defender carrying muscle discomfort or turns to Angelo Gabriel for the foreign-player slot. Either choice changes the shape of a match between the league leader and one of its closest pursuers.