Victory, but with a painful twist for Al Nassr and Pity Martinez.
\nHis tortured start to life in Riyadh,\u00a0after September\u2019s $18 million switch from Atlanta United, appeared closer to a definitive end after a deflected eighth-minute free-kick versus Al Wehda made it five goals or assists in little more than four Saudi Professional League run-outs. The Argentina winger had notched just one assist in the prior five top-flight matches, as new employers endured a nightmare start and foundations were laid for 2018\/19 title winner Rui Vitoria\u2019s eventual departure.
\nHis reported side injury would cause an\u00a0anguished premature exit\u00a0before the half-hour mark in Wednesday\u2019s 3-1 triumph, the former crisis club\u2019s fifth in their last six outings. It is vital for hopes of sustaining Nassr\u2019s resurgence under\u00a0caretaker Alen Horvat that no serious blow has occurred\u00a0\u2013 a correlation is apparent between Martinez\u2019s growing influence and improved results.
\nThe 27-year-old was acquired at a lavish price to break the dependence on Morocco internationals Nordin Amrabat and Abderrazak Hamdallah, plus provide a vital alternative attacking outlet to take the fight to multifaceted holders Al Hilal.
\nThis transition has been more fitful than hoped – or expected. There are early signs, however, that it is finally under way.
\nMartinez\u2019s\u00a0\u201ccomplicated legacy\u201d from Major League Soccer, as detailed by\u00a0SB Nation, appeared to have travelled with him to the Middle East. Precious little of the bountiful talent exhibited at River Plate by the 2018 South American Footballer of the Year was on show for his top-flight debut, a 2-1 loss to Al Fateh, when an xG (expected goals) of 0.03 was recorded, or just one failed through-ball attempt was made in an invisible 2-0 derby defeat to Hilal.
\nHamdallah has barely been around to drag them free from the drop zone. Even when present for 438 minutes, one SPL strike has followed.
\nA substantial decline from\u00a02019\u2019s global top scorer.
\nAmrabat has delivered goals at Al Faisaly and Al Batin, though zero assists for a player largely stationed on the wing speaks volumes about shrinking output. So, too, a descent from the division\u2019s leading average of 12.2 dribbles per 90 minutes last term, to this a present figure of 7.8.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by pity martinez (@pity_martinez)
\nNassr\u2019s early season issues cannot be solely apportioned to their toothless Atlas Lions.
\nLashings of blame could be sent Martinez\u2019s way, before weighing up\u00a0a coronavirus outbreak\u00a0and the rest.
\nMartinez has, though, responded as an eight-figure purchase is required. A deft free-kick played in the onrushing Petros to open the scoring in a 2-2 draw with Damac, he had a direct hand in the opening two goals from the 3-0 win versus promoted Al Ain and struck against Wehda.
\nOnly celebrated compatriot Ever Banega (31) of second-placed Al Shabab has produced more through balls than Martinez (30).
\nConsistency, now, is fundamental. The 2020\/21 crown is, surely, already gone for a seventh-placed Nassr, nine points off the leading pace after 13 matches.
\nThere will be, though, a 2021 AFC Champions League to tackle. A King\u2019s Cup quarter-final with Al Ain is scheduled for March.
\nIt is unlikely that\u00a0Amrabat will be around for 2021\/22. Hamdallah\u2019s future also\u00a0appears less certain than before.
\nThese are pivotal figures in Nassr\u2019s modern history. Hamdallah has produced 64 goals in 58 SPL run-outs, while Amrabat sits on 11 goals and 21 assists in 66 top-flight fixtures.
\nEqually dominant foreigners are needed to\u00a0provide firm foundations for a youthful squad,\u00a0full of promise.
\nMartinez is still some way short of those numbers.
\nHe must be that man. Starting now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Victory, but with a painful twist for Al Nassr and Pity Martinez.
\nHis tortured start to life in Riyadh,\u00a0after September\u2019s $18 million switch from Atlanta United, appeared closer to a definitive end after a deflected eighth-minute free-kick versus Al Wehda made it five goals or assists in little more than four Saudi Professional League run-outs. The Argentina winger had notched just one assist in the prior five top-flight matches, as new employers endured a nightmare start and foundations were laid for 2018\/19 title winner Rui Vitoria\u2019s eventual departure.
\nHis reported side injury would cause an\u00a0anguished premature exit\u00a0before the half-hour mark in Wednesday\u2019s 3-1 triumph, the former crisis club\u2019s fifth in their last six outings. It is vital for hopes of sustaining Nassr\u2019s resurgence under\u00a0caretaker Alen Horvat that no serious blow has occurred\u00a0\u2013 a correlation is apparent between Martinez\u2019s growing influence and improved results.
\nThe 27-year-old was acquired at a lavish price to break the dependence on Morocco internationals Nordin Amrabat and Abderrazak Hamdallah, plus provide a vital alternative attacking outlet to take the fight to multifaceted holders Al Hilal.
\nThis transition has been more fitful than hoped \u2013 or expected. There are early signs, however, that it is finally under way.
\nMartinez\u2019s\u00a0\u201ccomplicated legacy\u201d from Major League Soccer, as detailed by\u00a0SB Nation, appeared to have travelled with him to the Middle East. Precious little of the bountiful talent exhibited at River Plate by the 2018 South American Footballer of the Year was on show for his top-flight debut, a 2-1 loss to Al Fateh, when an xG (expected goals) of 0.03 was recorded, or just one failed through-ball attempt was made in an invisible 2-0 derby defeat to Hilal.
\nHamdallah has barely been around to drag them free from the drop zone. Even when present for 438 minutes, one SPL strike has followed.
\nA substantial decline from\u00a02019\u2019s global top scorer.
\nAmrabat has delivered goals at Al Faisaly and Al Batin, though zero assists for a player largely stationed on the wing speaks volumes about shrinking output. So, too, a descent from the division\u2019s leading average of 12.2 dribbles per 90 minutes last term, to this a present figure of 7.8.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by pity martinez (@pity_martinez)
\nNassr\u2019s early season issues cannot be solely apportioned to their toothless Atlas Lions.
\nLashings of blame could be sent Martinez\u2019s way, before weighing up\u00a0a coronavirus outbreak\u00a0and the rest.
\nMartinez has, though, responded as an eight-figure purchase is required. A deft free-kick played in the onrushing Petros to open the scoring in a 2-2 draw with Damac, he had a direct hand in the opening two goals from the 3-0 win versus promoted Al Ain and struck against Wehda.
\nOnly celebrated compatriot Ever Banega (31) of second-placed Al Shabab has produced more through balls than Martinez (30).
\nConsistency, now, is fundamental. The 2020\/21 crown is, surely, already gone for a seventh-placed Nassr, nine points off the leading pace after 13 matches.
\nThere will be, though, a 2021 AFC Champions League to tackle. A King\u2019s Cup quarter-final with Al Ain is scheduled for March.
\nIt is unlikely that\u00a0Amrabat will be around for 2021\/22. Hamdallah\u2019s future also\u00a0appears less certain than before.
\nThese are pivotal figures in Nassr\u2019s modern history. Hamdallah has produced 64 goals in 58 SPL run-outs, while Amrabat sits on 11 goals and 21 assists in 66 top-flight fixtures.
\nEqually dominant foreigners are needed to\u00a0provide firm foundations for a youthful squad,\u00a0full of promise.
\nMartinez is still some way short of those numbers.
\nHe must be that man. Starting now.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25125"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25125"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25126,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25125\/revisions\/25126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}