Brendan Rodgers stuns Cristiano Ronaldo as former Liverpool boss continues flying Saudi start

Brendan Rodgers has made a flying start to life in Saudi Arabia, with the former Liverpool boss overseeing a statement 2-1 win for Al-Qadsiah over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. The result not only dented Al-Nassr’s title push but also highlighted key tactical flaws that Rodgers was quick to exploit.

Al-Nassr came into the game on a record-breaking run, having won all of their opening league fixtures and positioning themselves as early favourites for the Saudi Pro League crown. Yet Rodgers’ Al-Qadsiah disrupted their rhythm with an organised, aggressive game plan that targeted Al-Nassr’s biggest weakness: their vulnerability in defensive transition and space left behind their attacking full-backs.

Rodgers set his side up to absorb pressure and then break quickly into the channels, drawing Al-Nassr’s back line out of shape. This approach paid off as Al-Qadsiah moved into a 2-0 lead by the 66th minute, capitalising on turnovers and exposing gaps when Al-Nassr pushed bodies forward. Ronaldo later converted a penalty to make it 2-1, but it proved only a consolation as Al-Qadsiah held firm.

The victory was framed as a personal triumph for Rodgers, who has swiftly imposed his methods since arriving in Saudi Arabia. His team’s intensity, discipline and clarity of structure contrasted with Al-Nassr’s reliance on individual brilliance, underlining how a cohesive tactical plan can unsettle even star-studded opposition.

For Ronaldo, the defeat continued a frustrating trend. Since moving to Saudi Arabia, he has yet to win a league title, and this setback further complicated Al-Nassr’s pursuit of leaders Al-Hilal. For Rodgers, meanwhile, the result reinforced his reputation as a high-level coach, demonstrating his ability to adapt to a new league, outthink elite opponents and engineer statement wins on a global stage.