Ange Postecoglou’s first match in charge of Al Nassr ended in a surprise 2-1 defeat to Benfica’s reserve side in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Lisbon.
The Australian, appointed this summer to succeed Jorge Jesus, saw his new team let an early lead slip in their opening pre-season outing at their Portuguese training camp on Wednesday.
Abdulmalik Al-Jaber had given the Saudi Pro League champions a fourth-minute advantage, but the Riyadh club conceded twice to the Portuguese giants’ B team to begin the Postecoglou era on a losing note.
The game was held without fans or media present, with details later confirmed by club sources.
Experimental line-up in first Postecoglou test
The fixture was the first in which Postecoglou has taken charge of Al Nassr since arriving to replace outgoing Portuguese coach Jesus, who left at the end of last season after winning the league title.
Postecoglou used the encounter to heavily rotate his squad, handing opportunities to fringe players and several youngsters.
The experimental selection was partly enforced, with many of Al Nassr’s international stars absent after recent duty with their national teams at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Al-Jaber struck early to give Al Nassr the perfect start, but the Saudi side were unable to maintain their grip on the game and were pegged back before seeing the match turned around in favour of Benfica’s second-string.
Despite the result, the run-out offered Postecoglou a first close look at his squad in a competitive environment as he begins to shape the team in his image.
Tough pre-season schedule in Portugal
Al Nassr, nicknamed “Al-Alami” (The Global Club), are in Lisbon for a multi-match pre-season camp as they prepare to defend their domestic crown and return to Asia’s elite competition.
Following the defeat by Benfica’s B team, the Riyadh club will continue their programme with a friendly against Spanish side Merida on 28 July.
They are then scheduled to meet Portuguese outfit Estrela Amadora on 1 August, before concluding their camp with a match against Spain’s Almeria on 4 August.
The sequence of games is designed to build match sharpness and test squad depth ahead of a campaign in which Al Nassr will be competing on multiple fronts.
Title defence and Asian return in Postecoglou’s sights
Al Nassr head into the new season as reigning Saudi Pro League champions, having ended a seven-year wait for the title under Jesus.
Postecoglou, who has previously managed at club and international level, has been tasked with sustaining that domestic success while also pushing the team further on the continental stage.
This season will see Al Nassr return to the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top-tier club competition, after missing out last year and instead contesting the secondary tournament.
They advanced to the final of that second-tier event but were beaten by Japan’s Gamba Osaka, falling just short of lifting the trophy.
With the step back up to the premier Asian competition and the pressure of defending their league crown, Postecoglou faces a demanding first year in Riyadh.
While pre-season results are rarely decisive, the loss to Benfica’s reserves offers an early reminder of the work ahead as he looks to blend returning internationals, established stars and emerging talents into a side capable of meeting Al Nassr’s growing ambitions at home and abroad.
