OVERALL THOUGHTS
Supercups have no value in a season, they are one or two off tournaments designed to make extra cash. But, in the case of Al Nassr in the CR7 era this is huge. Not because it will dictate who will win the kings cup or Saudi league or afc champions league. But, it will momentum wise be what Al Nassr needs for the ambition. Al Nassr defeated Alittihad to get to the final, and Al-ittihad are the reigning champs. And for the record Sadio Mane was the initial scorer for Al- Nassr in their first match. As for Al Ahli, Roberto Firminho left for Al Sadd in Qatar. Great team player. Wish him well. I wonder who Al Ahli will bring in. They have a good team squad, but don't have a great marketable player. I do not think they need one to win but they have earned one with their success.
At the half, this match is just like all the other matches I have witnessed from the best sides at the moment in the Saudi League. A battle. It isn't domination. It is a battle. Al Ahli/Al Nassr/ Al Ittihad are all going to battle this season. Along with Al Hilal of course, but I am just referring to clubs in the Saudi Super cup. It is that simple. Al Qadisah with Aubemeyang leaving and other changes like many midtable teams in various leagues will need some time to settle.
End of regulation
Nice battle, I think some players like Joao Felix just learned that they are going to have to work, this isn't the MLS. The top teams in Saudi league can beat any other team in the world not just on paper but in fight. So he has to up his game still. If he thought coming to Al Nassr meant he could coast or something he had it all wrong. Love Kessie, love the team vibe of Al Ahli, really do. They earned from Gabri Veiga to Porto $17,600,000 from Roberto Firmino to Al Sadd $8,200,000 fro Alexsander to Atlético Mineiro $7,500,000 plus from Allan Saint-Maximin to Club América $12,000,000 so that is forty five million nd three hundred thousand . Millot cost thirty two million and the three Saudi players they got cost just under thirteen million so they broke even on the transfer market. All they are due is a big time player. I don't watch penalties shootouts anymore. Nice battle. Good massage for Al Nassr's new players. Martinez talked about the level of play in UEFA being so great, he did not make a difference when most needed so his level of play must get stronger. Al Ahli I like, i think they will be in every match. Toney for me has to score more though. Last season he led in goals in all competitions but in this supercup he isn't, for the prime goalscorer that has to change. We will see. Al ahli need to find a more powerful goal scorer who is a team player and young, not easy to find. I think conmebol may have an answer.
MINUTES
04:45 Coman was wrong, should had been carded, he could had stopped beforehand. he was hoping to get a favorable fall out from the keeper. Should had been carded.
10:15 this is clearly an even match. I argue, Al Ahli is more cohesive
11:10 Joao Felix clearly fouled the ref has to be careful. On replay it was a simple collision. Inigo MArtinez continues where I last saw him in Barcelona, talking shit.
14:39 Mahrez was right, TOney needed to keep that low and pass earlier he waited to late, Toney was offside in the beginning
15:20 Angelo Gabriel good danger, his speed on that counter will gain him many opportunities. Coman ran with him but was covered but interesting how Al Nassr play two speedsters up top.
16:50 Good recovery block from Gabriel
24:45 One thing I notice Maran/Gabriel/Coman all are proper runners, they each play the offside trap well. They don't run until the pass, a simple thing to say but so few, COUGH Mbappe do well.
26:49 Mahrez good cross, a little too forward.
29:45 Kessie! great player, lovely attention in the middle, Bright Black Star. Gabriel just dragged him back, I argue a poor call.
37:49 great battle, ref has let the tackles be. and no tackles have been bad. If I am the referee no penalty. The defender is running into a space, and he is bringing his hands down. The referee interpret to rigidly for me. If AL Nassr win this people will say, the system wanted al nassr to win and their is truth in that, CR7 is a global superstar, when superstars win, the media return is greater that is the truth, but Al-ahli have not been outplayed. so, keep battling.
44:14 ahh Ivan Toney was offside, yes he was, free header, but offside. Players have to show patience, that is all, stop trying to time it perfectly and be on side and wait for the pass.
50:40 KESSIE!!! One of my players, lovely buildup, by Al Ahli, patient, passing it side to side above the box, penetrating a little , even with the deflection off SImakan, it was curled past the keeper. Kessie was unmarked again. The coach for Al Ahli should had been carded for yelling right in the ear of the sideline referee:)
HALFTIME
56:45 Frenetic beginning of the second half, back and forth, both teams are intercepting making runs, it is a battle. The ref has done well, letting honest tackles fly.
61:32 Galeno well done, read Wesley well. took from hsi dribble and earned the foul.
63:03 oh no, Kessie is down, ahh maybe tired.
70:14 ah crossbar, AL Nassr defender made an assist to Mahrez, and he brought it into the heart of Al Nassr but a cross a little while later led to a free strike, quickly, had to be quick but it hit the crossbar. Should had scored AL Ahli really. Both teams had chances, it is execution.
72:20 the midfielders of AL Ahli led by Kessie are really great biters, nice fight in them, they keep Al ahli always in the mix.
74:10 ahh great chance mahrez had to strike first time. Great through ball before hand, curled over the marker to the wide player for Al Ahli.
75:44 Water break, nice battle. I will not watch penalties.
78:03 Ghannam in for Wesley for Al nassr.
82:01 Brozovic scored, ahh Kessie was playing out the back and surrounded and the ball fell to brozovic. ahhh, Kessie has been great all game. He took the risk and got bit.
84:14 head collision, some of the players absent from Al Ahli have hurt overall, a firminho is so experienced off the bench. Firminho + Alioski are missed.
89:15 Multiple set pieces and Mahrez, stormed it in, Ibanez scored it. At first I thought he was in the gathering but on closer inspection. Brozovic missed his marker. Brozovic had to mark him.
91:19 Mahrez knows, that was a free strike, lovely, slip for a runner wide on the reverse side before hand, caught al nassr completely out, Mahrez, was free. Nawaf took the yellow for Al Nassr, Mahrez had skipped through on the counter.
94:52 nice battle, long season ahead.