Cristiano Ronaldo is being rested for Al Nassr's AFC Champions League trip to Uzbekistan due to security concerns, a week after their previous game was postponed. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who recently reached 985 career goals with a hat trick in the Saudi Pro League, was left off the roster by coach Ange Postecoglou alongside Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan. Postecoglou cited the pressure of matches and extensive travel as reasons for the rest, aiming to manage player workload amid the tournament's demanding schedule. Al Nassr, aiming for their first Asian title, has made a slow start, sitting ninth in the western zone group, the lowest-ranked of Saudi Arabia's five representatives in the 32-team tournament.
The continental championship split into east and west groups sees the top eight advance to the knockout stage. Al Nassr's campaign has been further disrupted by security issues, including previous delays and postponements linked to regional instability. Meanwhile, Al Ahli, past two-time Asian title winners, face their own challenges after a 6-1 home defeat, though Ivan Toney is expected to return. England forward Ollie Watkins helped Al Hilal extend their winning streak, while the broader tournament outlook remains uncertain amid ongoing security concerns raised by Japanese officials.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing