Al-Nassr & Ronaldo Push for Asian Supremacy

On Monday, Cristiano Ronaldo may take a big step toward the Asian Champions League top crown in Iran, but Al-Nassr is not the only Saudi Arabian club in contention.

Al-Nassr would go to the last eight if they beat Esteghlal of Tehran in the two-legged Round of 16 contest. Ronaldo has not won a major prize since joining the Riyadh side in December 2022. The 40-year-old has five UEFA Champions League titles whereas Al-Nassr has none in Asia.

Al-Nassr dropped to fourth in the Saudi Pro League after a 2-1 loss against Al-Orubah on Friday, putting pressure on coach Stefano Pioli.

“We had many chances but could not score,” remarked Pioli. “We had a lot of games in a short time and only had two days rest before this game, and now we have to prepare for another Asian Champions League game.”

Ronaldo scored six goals in the group stage to help Al-Nassr finish third in a 12-team Saudi Arabian group behind two other clubs. Al-Hilal, Nassr’s Riyadh rival, won the group stage and faces Uzbekistan’s Pakhatkor for a record fifth continental title.

With Portuguese players Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves and Brazilian stars Marcos Leonardo, Kaio Cesar, and Malcom, Hilal is a heavy favorite to overcome the Central Asian team, which won only one of eight group stage games.

Al-Ahli, second in the group, faces Qatar’s Al-Rayyan. Former Premier League player Ivan Toney scored a triple trick as Al-Ahli triumphed 3-2 against Al-Hilal on Friday.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s two-time champion Al-Sadd faces UAE’s Al-Wasl. The competition is divided into two geographic zones until the quarterfinals, and none of the eight eastern zone clubs have won the championship.

Three Japanese teams breezed through group stage. Shanghai Port coach Kevin Muscat will face Yokohama F. Marinos. Kawasaki Frontale visits Shanghai Shenhua and Vissel Kobe hosts South Korea’s sole participant, Gwangju FC. The final match pits Thailand’s Buriram United against Malaysia’s Johor Darul Tazim.