Private sources within the Saudi Al-Nassr club revealed the final date for the first appearance of the team's captain, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, after a short absence that kept him from participating with "Al-Aalami" during the last two crucial rounds in the Roshan Professional League standings, which raised questions from fans about when he would return to the green field.

Sources have confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will make his first appearance in Al-Nassr's upcoming league match against Al-Fateh, returning to the starting lineup after missing the previous two matches against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad. This return is expected to bolster the team's attacking prowess at a crucial stage of the competition, as Al-Nassr fans are counting heavily on their veteran captain to secure points and maintain their pursuit of domestic titles.

Regarding the team's performance during the absence of their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr demonstrated their cohesion and ability to secure victories. They successfully overcame Al-Riyadh with a clean sheet. More importantly, they clinched a thrilling derby victory against their arch-rivals, Al-Ittihad, in the previous round, winning 2-0 at Al-Ahli Park in front of a packed stadium. This victory reflects the depth of the squad and the fighting spirit the team possesses, even without their key players.

In a related context regarding continental competitions, Al-Nassr is preparing to face Turkmenistan's Arkadağ in the next round of the AFC Champions League group stage. Reports indicate that Cristiano Ronaldo will miss this Asian encounter due to a personal and technical decision, perhaps to give him more rest and full readiness for the more intense domestic league fixtures.

Ronaldo's return against Al-Fateh is of paramount importance, not only technically but also psychologically, as the Portuguese star carries significant weight both in the locker room and on the pitch. Al-Nassr's coaching staff hopes to capitalize on his return to continue their winning streak, especially given the fierce competition in the Saudi league this season, where every point is crucial in the title race. Saudi and international fans eagerly await the return of the all-time leading scorer to resume his goal-scoring form and lead his team to victory.

Al-Hilal's first football team is preparing for a tough and highly anticipated match against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai of the UAE, as part of the seventh round of the AFC Champions League group stage. In a tactical move aimed at rotating players and maintaining team vitality, Italian coach Simone Inzaghi has decided to reinstate three key players to the starting lineup to compensate for the recent significant absences that have plagued the "Leaders" squad.

Forced and tactical changes in defense and goalkeeping

The starting lineup for the match features significant changes in defense, with Inzaghi opting to start goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie in goal for Al-Hilal. This decision aims to give Moroccan international Yassine Bounou a rest, as part of the coach's rotation policy to avoid fatigue amidst the congested schedule of domestic and continental matches. On the defensive side, Spanish defender Pablo Mari returns to the starting eleven to replace Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly, who is sidelined with an injury. This places a heavy responsibility on Mari to lead the back line against the Emirati team's attack.

Nunez leads the attack in Benzema's absence

Up front, Uruguayan star Darwin Núñez returns to lead Al Hilal's attack from the first minute. Núñez's return comes at a crucial time to compensate for the significant absence of French striker Karim Benzema, who has been sidelined with an injury. Coach Inzaghi and Al Hilal fans are counting heavily on Núñez's goal-scoring prowess and his disruptive movement to unlock Shabab Al Ahli Dubai's defense and secure the points.

The list of absences and the leader's challenges

Al-Hilal enters this match missing several key players, making the task even more difficult. In addition to the absence of Karim Benzema and Kalidou Koulibaly, the team's captain and star player, Salem Al-Dawsari, is also sidelined due to injury. These absences present the coaching staff with a real challenge in finding the right combination to compensate for the technical shortfall and maintain the team's upward trajectory.

The importance of the match in the continental context

This match is of particular importance as it comes at a crucial stage of the AFC Champions League group stage, the most prestigious club competition in Asia. Al-Hilal aims to ensure the full readiness of all its players through these changes, as the team aspires to advance towards winning the continental title, capitalizing on the depth of its squad and the presence of big names, despite the surrounding circumstances and injuries.

German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of the first football team at Al-Ahli Saudi Club, confirmed his team’s complete readiness to play the anticipated and tough match against their Emirati counterpart Al-Wahda, stressing his great confidence in his players’ ability to deliver the best technical performances on the pitch.

Yassle's remarks came during a press conference held on Sunday to discuss the details of the match, where he revealed his intention to employ a tactical strategy based on player rotation. This approach aims to rest some key players and distribute their physical exertion, ensuring the team maintains its high level of performance amidst a busy schedule of matches and competitions.

The coach of Al-Raed explained that the team's main ambition is to continue the series of positive results in the continental championship, adding in a confident tone: "Our goal is clear and specific, which is to achieve victory and win all three points to advance in the standings.".

The importance of the match and the group standings

This match is particularly important given the teams' similar standings in the AFC Champions League group stage. Al-Ahli enters the game in third place with 13 points, the same as Al-Wahda of the UAE in fourth, separated only by goal difference. Both teams are just one point behind Tractor Sazi of Iran, who sit second in the group with 14 points. A victory in this match would be a significant step towards securing a higher position before the knockout stages.

Continental competition context

This match is part of the seventh round of the AFC Champions League group stage, the newly revamped format featuring the strongest clubs in Asia. Saudi clubs, particularly Al-Ahli, are aiming to reaffirm their continental dominance and seriously contend for the title, bolstered by significant support and recent high-profile signings. Matches between Saudi and Emirati clubs are always highly competitive and exciting, adding to the anticipation surrounding tomorrow's encounter.

Match date

Al-Ahli are set to face a tough away match against Al-Wahda of the UAE, with kickoff scheduled for 4:45 PM tomorrow, Monday. All eyes will be on this encounter, which could reshape the standings at the top of the group, as Al-Ahli coach Yassir aims to prove the success of his tactical philosophy and return to Jeddah with all three points.