Al-Nassr's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, revealed the real reasons behind his decision to exclude Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad called up to face Arkadag in the highly anticipated Round of 16 match of the AFC Champions League. This decision comes at a sensitive time in the football season, as the team seeks to compete on all fronts.

League priority and player rotation

In a decisive statement during the pre-match press conference, Jorge Jesus confirmed that the decision stemmed from a purely technical vision aimed at maintaining the team's readiness. He said, "I decided to exclude Cristiano Ronaldo and a number of other key players from the Arkadag match, which is part of the AFC Champions League 2." The veteran coach explained that squad rotation has become a pressing necessity given the pressure of consecutive matches both domestically and continentally.

Jesus indicated that the main reason behind this bold decision was the upcoming domestic fixture, adding: "Al-Nassr has a very tough and important match against Al-Fateh in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, which will be held at Al-Fateh's stadium." This statement reflects the coaching staff's desire to field their strongest lineup for the league match, given the importance of the three points in the race for the Saudi League title, which is witnessing fierce competition this season.

The morale boost after El Clásico

Al-Nassr enters this period with extremely high morale, having won their last match in the Saudi Arabian football classic against Al-Ittihad, with a score of 2-0, in the previous round of the Saudi Professional League. This victory not only earned the team three points but also boosted the confidence of the players and coaching staff in their ability to continue winning.

Effort distribution strategy

Resting Ronaldo and other key players is part of a "management strategy" employed by major clubs competing in multiple tournaments. While the AFC Champions League 2, despite its continental importance, may allow for the inclusion of substitutes and young players to prove themselves at certain stages, league matches, especially away games like the one against Al-Fateh, demand the full mental and physical presence of the team's mainstays, most notably captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Through this careful balance between tournaments, Al-Nasr seeks to avoid muscle injuries and fatigue that may strike the players in the final stretch of the season, making Jesus's decision a proactive step to ensure the competition continues with the same long-term commitment until the end of the season.

Qatari team Al Sadd achieved a valuable and strategic victory away from home by defeating their Iranian host Tractor 2-0 in the strong match that brought them together on Tuesday evening, as part of the seventh and penultimate round of the league stage in the AFC Champions League for the 2025-2026 season.

The match witnessed a high level of tactical performance from the Qatari team, who successfully absorbed the home side's initial enthusiasm before launching their decisive attacks in the second half. The brilliant Rafa Mojica opened the scoring for Al Sadd in the 61st minute, putting pressure on the Iranian team. Before the final whistle, Brazilian star Roberto Firmino delivered the final blow, scoring the second goal in the 89th minute, securing Al Sadd's well-deserved three points.

A precious gift for Al-Hilal Saudi and securing the top spot

This victory was not only important for improving Al Sadd's position in the standings, but it also served as a golden gift to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. As a result, Tractor Sazi of Iran remained on 14 points in third place, a full four points behind leaders Al Hilal. With only one round remaining (three points available), it became mathematically impossible for any team to catch Al Hilal, officially securing the top spot in the West Zone group before even playing their final match.

Team standings and the struggle for qualification in the elite

With this crucial victory, Al Sadd raised their points tally to 8, jumping to eighth place in the West Zone standings, the last qualifying spot for the Round of 16. This intensifies the competition in the final round to secure a place in the next stage. Meanwhile, Tractor's points total remains at 14, level with Al Ahli Saudi (on goal difference) in second place, and ahead of Al Wahda of the UAE in fourth.

The importance of the new system for the continental championship

These results take on added significance under the new format of the AFC Champions League, where West Asian teams compete in a single group in a round-robin format. Finishing first, which Al-Hilal secured, grants a significant advantage in the knockout stage draw, as they will face the eighth-placed team, theoretically easing their path to the later rounds, in addition to the advantage of playing the decisive matches at home.

Al-Hilal is scheduled to conclude its journey in this round with a celebratory match - in terms of the top spot calculations - when it hosts its Emirati counterpart Al-Wahda on Monday evening, in a match in which Al-Hilal will seek to confirm its absolute dominance over the Asian continent and the best preparation for the knockout stages.

Moroccan international striker Youssef En-Nesyri opened his scoring account for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad, netting his first official goal against Qatar's Al-Gharafa. This came during a hard-fought match between the two teams at Al-Inma Stadium, as part of the seventh round of the group stage (round of 16) of the AFC Champions League, the most prestigious and competitive club competition in Asia.

This goal marks the true beginning of En-Nesyri's journey with Al-Ittihad, as he managed to find the net in only his second appearance for the club. The club signed the Moroccan striker during the last winter transfer window to bolster their attack, a move that Al-Ittihad fans are counting on to help them compete for all available domestic and continental titles this season.

The importance of the goal and its timing for the dean

This goal holds special significance beyond its mere significance as a goal in a match; it represents a tremendous morale boost for the new player, who is eager to quickly prove his worth and integrate into the team's system. The AFC Champions League, in its new format, presents a significant challenge for Saudi clubs, with Al-Ittihad, a two-time Asian champion, striving to reclaim its continental glory and advance to the knockout stages. Winning in the later rounds, such as the seventh, is crucial for securing a high ranking in the group, thus easing the team's path in the subsequent knockout rounds.

Al-Nassiri... a valuable addition to the Tigers' attack

Youssef En-Nesyri is known for his exceptional aerial ability and positioning inside the penalty area, qualities Al-Ittihad has lacked at times. His quick integration into matches and goal-scoring prowess reflect the coaching staff's success in integrating new players. Fans are eagerly anticipating that En-Nesyri will form a formidable attacking partnership with the rest of the team, especially given the fierce competition both domestically in the Roshan League and in the AFC Champions League against elite clubs from the East and West.

Youssef En-Nesyri's numbers with Al-Ittihad so far

After successfully finding the net against Al Gharafa, Youssef En-Nesyri's tally with Al Ittihad is now as follows:

• Number of matches played: 2 matches.
• Number of goals scored: 1 goal.
• Number of assists: 0.
• Total goal contributions: 1.

With this goal, En-Nesyri sends a message of reassurance to the Al-Ittihad fans that he is ready to take responsibility and lead the attack in the upcoming matches.