The gap at the summit is now up to seven points following Friday's meeting of the top two that saw the Portugal forward cut a frustrated figure
Was that the match that decided the Saudi Pro League title race? In early December, it's likely too early to say, but Al-Hilal's 3-0 win over Al-Nassr means there is now a seven-point gap at the top of the table as we approach the halfway point of the campaign.
That clash between Riyadh's top-two sides headlined another weekend of exciting Pro League action as the rest of the table begins to take shape in the Middle East.
Away from Friday's top-of-the-table clash, Al-Ittihad continued their recovery under new coach Marcelo Gallardo, as they recovered from an injury suffered by star striker Karim Benzema to beat Al-Khaleej 4-2 on Thursday.
That same night, there was a big win for third-placed Al-Ahli, who ran out 6-0 winners on the road at Abha, while surprise package Al-Taawoun remained in touch of the top-three with a comeback win over Al-Shabab on Saturday.
The news was less good for Steven Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq, however, who went down 1-0 to relegation-threatened Al-Akhdoud to maintain the pressure on their English coach.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the latest round of Saudi Pro League action…
Getty ImagesLOSER: Cristiano Ronaldo's title dreams
If Al-Nassr were to become the first team to beat Al-Hilal in the Pro League this season, they needed their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to step up and lead the way. However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner struggled to impose himself on the game as he cut a frustrated figure.
Ronaldo struggled with the physicality of Hilal's Saudi international defender Ali Albulayhi (much like Lionel Messi did in the 2022 World Cup) and spent much of the game complaining to Colombian referee Wilmar Rondan as he looked for a decision that would change the complexion of the contest.
As it was, three second-half goals condemned Nassr to their first loss in 21 games, and leaves them facing an uphill task to win the Pro League title as they look to bridge the seven-point gap which has now opened up at the summit.
AdvertisementWINNER: Al-Hilal's Serbian stars
Though it was Neymar who stole the majority of the headlines when it came to Al-Hilal's summer signings, a number of their other new arrivals have stepped up in the absence of the injured Brazilian, and none more so than their Serbian duo, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The pair shared all three goals in Hilal's win over Al-Nassr on Friday, with Milinkovic-Savic heading in the opener midway through the second half before Mitrovic added some gloss to the scoreline with a late double.
The former Fulham striker has now scored 20 goals in as many games since arriving in Saudi Arabia, including 13 in the Pro League, which puts him just two strikes behind Ronaldo in what has become an intriguing Golden Boot race.
Milinkovic-Savic, meanwhile, insists that he is "not even in my best shape yet", but the way the ex-Lazio star controlled the midfield against Nassr suggested otherwise. With he and Mitrovic in fine form, it's difficult to imagine Hilal throwing away their seven-point advantage at the top of the table.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Karim Benzema
Benzema cannot catch a break this season, it seems. Just as the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner looked primed to finally kickstart his Al-Ittihad career under new manager Gallardo, the striker suffered an injury that, while not serious, is yet another frustrating chapter to add to his Pro League story.
The former France striker limped off after 32 minutes against Al-Khaleej on Thursday and was clearly tearful as he left the pitch just three minutes after doubling his side's lead from the penalty spot in their 4-2 victory.
Fortunately, it seems that he will only be out for around 10 days, though that does put his chances of playing in Ittihad's first-round Club World Cup match against Auckland City on December 12 in jeopardy.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Marcelo Gallardo
He's only been in charge for three matches, but already the Al-Ittihad fans are chanting the name of their new manager Gallardo. The Argentine has overseen two wins and a draw since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, but the early signs are that the defending champions are starting to find their best levels once more.
Spirits are high, then, as Ittihad look ahead to the Club World Cup, where they are aiming to at least emulate Al-Hilal's achievement of reaching the final in 2022, where the Saudi side succumbed to Real Madrid in a 5-3 thriller.
