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RIYADH: Al-Nassr began their 2025-26 Saudi Pro League campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Al-Taawoun on Friday, while Al-Hilal also kicked off their season comfortably with a 2-0 victory over Al-Riyadh.

Joao Felix scored a hat-trick on his league debut for visiting Al-Nassr after his summer move from Chelsea, the first of his goals coming after just seven minutes. Angelo pulled the ball into the area from the left and Portuguese star Felix fired a first-time shot from the left side of the penalty spot into the opposite corner.

Cristiano Ronaldo increased the lead from the spot in the 54th minute after a handball in the area. And just a minute later it was effectively game over when Kingsley Coman scored his first goal in ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ, heading home from the edge of the area.

Midway through the second half, Felix grabbed his second with another fine strike from distance. He wasn’t done yet, though his third, Al-Nassr’s fifth, came from close range.

Earlier, Al-Nassr’s Riyadh rivals, and last season’s SPL runners-up, Al-Hilal also took three points from their opening game, at home. After impressing at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer under new coach Simone Inzaghi, it did not take them long, after an early claim for a goal from new signing Darwin Nunez was ruled out, to begin their campaign in spectacular style during a dominant first-half performance.

The opener came midway through the opening 45 when Salem Al-Dawsari found Moteb Al-Harbi on the left and the 25-year-old unleashed a rocket from just inside the area that left goalkeeper Milan Borjan with no chance.

Al-Dawsari assisted once again for the second, just before the break, and it was another beauty. Malcom, now wearing No. 10, cut inside from the right, exchanged a quick one-two with Saudi international Al-Dawsari on the edge of the box and then curled the ball into the bottom corner.

There would be no more goals for the 19-time champions but nor was there ever much indication that they would fail to take all three points come full time.

In the day’s other game, visiting Al-Khaleej comfortably defeated Al-Shabab 4-1. Champions Al-Ittihad begin the defense of their title on Saturday at Al-Okhdood.