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.

Badr Al-Ruziza, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Qadisiyah Club, revealed the strategic details of opening the new branch of the club’s academy in Al-Ahsa Governorate, stressing that this step comes within a well-thought-out expansion plan aimed at discovering and refining football talents in one of the most fertile footballing regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In exclusive statements to “Al-Midan Al-Riyadi”, Al-Ruzaiza explained that the club’s ambitions go beyond mere geographical presence, saying: “Our goal is to reach 2,500 players in the academies. Al-Ahsa is a fertile and birthing ground for talents, and our expansion there is not just about increasing numbers, but rather a real investment in the source of stars that has always supplied Saudi football with brilliant names.”.

The president of Al-Qadisiyah added, stressing the global standards adopted by the club in its new phase: “Our goal is to keep pace with the major academies globally, such as the Liverpool FC Academy and the major clubs in the world. We are not looking for quantity only, but for quality and professionalism in the foundation. Go back to our last match against Al-Fateh to know the true value of Al-Qadisiyah and its popularity in Al-Ahsa.”.

Al-Ahsa: A goldmine for Saudi football

Al-Qadisiyah Club's decision to open an academy in Al-Ahsa is based on established historical and sporting facts. Al-Ahsa is known as the "Brazil of Saudi Arabia" due to the abundance of talent that has emerged from its neighborhoods and clubs to represent the national teams. Historically, this region has produced football legends who have contributed to Saudi football's achievements, making it a strategic choice for any club seeking to build a solid foundation in its youth ranks.

The new Al-Qadisiyah project and a vision for the future

Al-Qadisiyah Club is undergoing a historic transformation following its acquisition by Saudi Aramco, which has propelled it into the ranks of clubs with sustainable sports projects. This project extends beyond simply signing international stars for the first team in the Saudi Professional League; it encompasses infrastructure development and the advancement of its youth sector. The opening of academies in strategic locations is part of the club's vision to become a primary source of talent for Saudi national teams in the future, emulating successful European models in player development.

On the field, Al-Qadisiyah team had drawn in its last match in the Roshan Professional League against its counterpart Al-Fateh with a score of one goal each, in a match that was held in Al-Ahsa, in which the team showed a strong character, reflecting the technical development that the club is witnessing in parallel with its administrative and investment development.