Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Ronaldo left out of Al-Nassr squad for AFC match in Uzbekistan
Al-Nassr left Cristiano Ronaldo out of its squad for its AFC Champions League match against Pakhtakor in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Coach Ange Postecoglou said Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were rested because of a busy schedule and travel demands.
The match is part of Asia’s top club competition, where Al-Nassr is aiming to win its first Asian title.
The club is ninth in the western group after a slow start, and the top eight teams in each of the east and west groups advance to the knockout stage.
Al-Nassr’s previous match was postponed after UAE club Al-Wasl declined to travel to Riyadh.
Security concerns in Saudi Arabia have also raised questions about the Asian Cup, due to begin there on January 7.
Officials will keep monitoring the situation, with the Asian Football Confederation saying it could decide by the end of November whether the tournament needs to be moved.
Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Al-Nassr’s squad for its AFC Champions League match against Pakhtakor in Tashkent.
Coach Ange Postecoglou said Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were rested because of the match schedule and travel demands.
The match is scheduled for Monday, November 2, in Uzbekistan.
Al-Nassr are ninth in the western zone standings, with three points from one win and one defeat, and a postponed fixture.
The decision comes amid wider security concerns affecting football fixtures in the region and doubts about the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
- Who
- Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Al-Nassr’s squad by coach Ange Postecoglou.
- What
- Al-Nassr will face Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League without Ronaldo. Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan were also rested, according to the reports.
- When
- Monday, November 2, 2026.
- Where
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Why
- Postecoglou cited the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Al-Nassr’s previous home match in the competition was delayed by an hour after reports of missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Al-Wasl declined to travel to Riyadh for an AFC Champions League match, and the AFC postponed it.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a Saudi Pro League match, bringing his career goal tally to 985.
Al-Nassr are scheduled to play Pakhtakor in Tashkent without Ronaldo.
- Match
- Al-Nassr vs Pakhtakor
- Competition
- AFC Champions League
- Venue
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Al-Nassr standing
- Ninth in the western zone
- Ronaldo career goals
- 985
- Al-Nassr record in competition
- Three points from one win and one defeat, plus a postponed fixture
8 sources
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What people are saying
given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved
Despite the difficult start, the preparation conditions, and the lack of complete readiness at the beginning of the season, we have now reached an excellent stage
Based on what I've learned from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don't think it would be easy to hold the [Asian] Cup there
We can wait until the end of November
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نُقـدم لكم قائمة الفريق الرسميـة للمباراة 📋 دعواتنا لنجومنا بالتوفيق بإذن الله 💛 #النصر_باختاكور