AFC
No Cristiano, no party for Al Nassr
Iranian side Esteghlal and Al Nassr drew 0-0 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League round of 16.
Al Nassr’s progression in the AFC Champions League Elite will be resolved in the return leg in Riyadh after a goalless first leg against Esteghlal. Stéfano Pilo’s men clearly missed the presence of their star striker Cristiano Ronaldo who didn’t make the trip to the Iranian capital on security measures.
A 0-0 draw leaves everything wide open for the return leg in Riyadh next week (the game is earmarked for March 10).
Al Nassr will be welcome the return of the Portuguese striker and Aymeric Laporte in the centre of defence and with the support of a passionate home crowd, the Saudi Pro League side will be widely fancied to advance against the Iranian side.
Al Nassr started today in Tehran with six foreigners: Bento, Brozovic, Simakan, Angelo, Mané and Durán, but neither player was able to make the difference with Al Nassr’s best player on the night being Simakan. The 24-year-old was rock solid at the heart of the Al Nassr defence but the player of the game award went to Esteghlal keeper Hosseini. The veteran stopper deprived efforts from Mané and Durán and frustrated the Saudis who failed to break down the solid Iranian outfit.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.