Ronaldo to sit out Al Nassr’s game against Persepolis: Report
Al Nassr head coach Stefano Pioli is expected to give rest to Cristiano Ronaldo for Monday’s dead rubber against Persepolis in Tehran at the AFC Champions League Elite, according to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah.
Ronaldo, who turned 40 last week, has bagged six goals in five appearances in the competition as Al Nassr sits third in the west zone’s 12-team table with 16 points – three behind fellow-Saudi Pro League heavyweights Al Hilal and Al Ahli, and four points above Al Sadd of Qatar.
With Al Nassr already secured a last-16 spot, the Italian boss wants to make several changes to his first-choice lineup for the final game of the league phase to “give game time to all members of the squad,” Arriyadiyah has been told by sources in the club.
Also standing third in the Saudi top flight – trailing league leader Al Ittihad by eight points – Pioli’s side will visit Jeddah to face Al Ahli in domestic action on Thursday before leaving for the Iranian capital.
The report means Iranian fans will again miss the chance to watch the Portuguese superstar from the stands at the Azadi Stadium, after the previous meeting between the two sides in September 2023 took place behind closed doors at the same venue, due to an AFC punishment for Persepolis.
It will, however, be a major boost for the Tehran Reds, for whom even a draw on the final day could prove not enough to finish in the top eight and, thus, progress to the round of 16.
Last week’s 4-1 humiliation at Al Hilal saw Persepolis drop to ninth in the table with six points – equal with eight-placed city rival Esteghlal.
the battle for three knockout spots in the west will go down to the wire between Al Rayyan (eight points), Al Gharafa (seven points), Esteghlal, Persepolis, and Pakhtakor (four points) on Monday and Tuesday.
Pakhtakor will face Al Sadd in Tashkent on Monday, with Al Gharafa playing away to Al Ahli.
Esteghlal will visit Al Rayyan on Tuesday, with a single point – if other results on the preceding night go its way – likely to be enough to send the Tehran Blues through.