Inigo Martinez Likely to Miss Al-Ahli Clash in Saudi Pro League

Inigo Martinez is likely to miss Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League clash with Al-Ahli after minor muscle discomfort limited his training. Al-Nassr sit top of the table, but the defender’s availability now hangs on a medical evaluation before Jorge Jesus makes his final call.

Martinez and Jorge Jesus

Martinez was initially part of the matchday squad discussions, yet his participation in training was restricted by the discomfort. That leaves Jesus weighing whether to keep the Spaniard in the group or turn to another option before a match that carries title-race weight for the league leaders.

Arriyadiyah reported that the defender is likely not to play against Al-Ahli, which would remove one potential piece from a side already built around Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix in attack. Angelo Gabriel is one possible replacement in the foreign player quota if Jesus chooses to change the balance of his squad.

Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli

The fixture brings more than one layer of pressure. Al-Nassr have won 19 consecutive games across all competitions and have taken 13 of 14 league home matches, while still carrying the memory of Al-Ahli’s 3-2 win earlier in the campaign.

That earlier result keeps the rematch from feeling routine, especially with Al-Ahli firmly in the top three. Al-Nassr have scored 79 goals and conceded 21, a record that has kept them ahead of the pack, but a late defensive absence would force a different shape against a direct rival.

Al-Nassr’s final decision

The last word belongs to Jesus after the medical evaluation, and the decision will shape how Al-Nassr line up for one of their most demanding league tests. If Martinez is left out, the champions’ margin for error narrows before a match that could tighten the race at the top.