April 8 (Reuters Sports Service) - Al-Nassr will try to take advantage of the postponement of Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli's matches due to their participation in the AFC Champions League and further extend their lead in the Saudi Professional League when they visit struggling Al-Akhdoud on Saturday.

Coach Jorge Jesus' team is five points ahead of Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli after 27 matches, and has reached 70 points after winning its last 13 matches.

Al-Nasr regained its top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned and scored two goals in the 5-2 victory over Al-Najma after missing the previous two matches due to a hamstring injury, and traveled to the Spanish capital, Madrid, for treatment.

Ronaldo, 41, has reached 23 goals in 23 league games, three goals behind Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toni and Al-Qadisiyah winger Julian Quiñones, who are joint top scorers.

Al-Akhdoud enters the match trying to get a morale boost after achieving two wins in the last four matches, but it is still in 17th place and second to last and is six points away from the safety zone.

New coach Fathi Al-Jabal, who won against Al-Fateh in his first match with the team last round, hopes to continue the victories, relying on his experience in the league.

The Tunisian coach, Al-Jabal, led Al-Fateh to win the Saudi League title in the 2012-2013 season, the biggest achievement in the club’s history, before winning the Saudi Super Cup title in the 2013-2014 season.

The round will begin on Thursday without Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli playing their matches due to their participation in the AFC Champions League.

Al-Ahli was supposed to host Al-Fateh, Al-Hilal was supposed to visit Al-Khaleej, and Al-Ittihad was supposed to visit Al-Shabab.

Al Hilal will play against Al Sadd of Qatar and Al Ahli against Al Duhail of Qatar on Monday, April 13, while Al Ittihad will play against Al Wahda of the UAE on Tuesday, April 14.

Al-Qadisiyah seeks to correct its course

Al-Qadisiyah suffered a 3-2 defeat against Al-Ettifaq after squandering their one-goal lead, stumbling for the second time in four matches after a draw against Al-Taawon. This is coach Brendan Rodgers' first defeat with the team in the league.

The defeat left Al-Qadisiyah with 60 points, five points behind Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, who occupy the second and third places that qualify for the AFC Champions League elite next season.

Al-Qadisiyah will be looking to get back on track when they visit Damac on Thursday, taking advantage of their hosts' situation after suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to Al-Ahli in the last round.

Damac is only two points away from the relegation zone, with 22 points in 15th place.

In the remaining matches of the round, Al-Ettifaq will play against Al-Riyadh on Thursday, while the rest of the round matches will be completed on Saturday with Al-Najma facing Neom, Al-Taawon facing Al-Kholoud, and Al-Hazm facing Al-Fayha.