OGUN Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – On Tuesday, after resting captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr battled to a 1-1 tie with FC Istiklol in Tajikistan.
The 38-year-old Ronaldo, who had scored in a 3-1 victory over Istiklol in the rematch in Saudi Arabia in October, was not called upon by Al Nassr because they already had the top spot in AFC Champions League Group E guaranteed.
Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte were not used as substitutes at the Tajikistan Central Stadium, while Al Nassr did not include Marcelo Brozovic in the lineup for Tuesday’s match.
The Tajik champions took the lead on Tuesday when skipper Alisher Dzhalilov scored a low goal from long range. Istiklol finished bottom of Group E after losing all six of their games.
The away side equalized early in the second half when Abdulrahman Ghareeb smashed home a rebound from six yards after his initial effort had hit keeper Rustam Yatimov’s chest.
Al Nassr ended the group stage with 14 points from a possible 18, having scored 13 goals, including three from Ronaldo and conceded seven.
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The draw for the knockout stage will take place on 21 December, with the round of 16 scheduled to be played in February.
Al Nassr have already won one trophy this season. Ronaldo scored six goals in the club’s triumphant 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup campaign in July and August.
In the King Cup, Ronaldo and co have advanced to the quarterfinals.
But a 3-0 loss to title rivals Al-Hilal last week delivered a serious blow to Al Nassr’s hopes of winning the Saudi Pro League.
As a result, Al Nassr now leads Al-Hilal by seven points.