Cristiano Ronaldo ready to return to the Champions League

During his time in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo has consistently shown a clear determination to win new titles. While Al-Nassr has an interesting Saudi Pro League fixture this Tuesday, the Portuguese star will be rested, as Stefano Pioli’s team has a much bigger objective looming on the horizon.

In the domestic league, Ronaldo’s side has fallen slightly behind in the title race. Karim Benzema’s Al-Ittihad leads with 68 points, followed by Mitrović’s Al-Hilal with 62. Al-Nassr currently sits on 57 points, prompting a shift in focus to another competition: the AFC Champions League, which is about to enter its decisive phase.

Ronaldo left out against Damac

According to Asharq al-Awsat, the largest newspaper in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo will not feature in Tuesday’s game to avoid fatigue and ensure he’s fully fit for the upcoming quarterfinal of the AFC Champions League, where Al-Nassr will face Japan’s formidable Yokohama Marinos. The quarterfinal is scheduled for Saturday and will be decided in a single-leg format—making it a high-stakes, winner-takes-all encounter.

In addition to Ronaldo’s absence, Al-Nassr will also be without Sadio Mané for the match against Damac, as the Senegalese forward is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards in the league. As a result, Colombian striker Jhon Durán is expected to lead the line for Al-Nassr ahead of their crucial Champions League clash.

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Though Yokohama Marinos currently sit in the relegation zone of the J1 League with just eight points from 12 games, it’s worth noting that their focus has clearly been on the AFC Champions League. In Asia’s premier tournament, Marinos dominated Group A, collecting 18 out of a possible 21 points with six wins and just one loss. In the round of 16, they comfortably dispatched Shanghai Port with a 5–1 aggregate score, before drawing Al-Nassr in the quarterfinals.

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