Cristiano Ronaldo has been left off Al-Nassr’s roster for an AFC Champions League match in Uzbekistan, as ongoing regional security concerns in Saudi Arabia continue to disrupt Asian soccer competitions and force fixture postponements.
Shedding Star Power for the Journey to Tashkent
Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou left Cristiano Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman, and Mohamed Simakan off the traveling squad for Monday’s fixture against Pakhtakor. As AP News reported, the decision was made given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved. Ronaldo recently scored a hat trick in domestic play to reach 985 career goals, but the veteran forward will watch this continental fixture from the sidelines.
The club sits ninth in the western zone group of the 32-team continental tournament. The competition splits into two groups of 16 for the east and west regions, with the top eight teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage. Postecoglou noted that despite a slow start and difficult preparation conditions at the beginning of the season, the team has reached an excellent stage.
Security Disruptions and Regional Pressures
The roster omission comes on the heels of repeated security-related schedule disruptions across the region. Last week, Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates declined to travel to Riyadh for a Champions League match, forcing the Asian Football Confederation to postpone the fixture. Earlier, Al-Nassr’s home match on October 12 experienced a one-hour delay following reports of missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Broader tournament schedules also face scrutiny as the Asian Cup approaches its scheduled January 7 kickoff in Saudi Arabia. Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto voiced doubts at an AFC Congress regarding the safety of holding the tournament as planned. Meanwhile, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa indicated that officials can monitor the situation through the end of November before deciding whether to proceed or push the tournament back to 2028.
| Club / Representative | Tournament Context | Recent Development |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Nassr | AFC Champions League (West Zone) | Ronaldo rested for Tashkent trip; currently ninth in group. |
| Al-Ahli | AFC Champions League (Defending Champions) | Third in group ahead of Qatar trip; Ivan Toney available. |
| Al-Hilal | Saudi Pro League / Continental | Won fifth straight league match to go top; Ollie Watkins scored. |
Domestic Form and Squad Availability
While continental matches face logistical hurdles, domestic league play continues apace. Al-Hilal captured its fifth straight league victory to move to the top of the Saudi Pro League, aided by a goal from forward Ollie Watkins ahead of their meeting with Shabab Al-Ahli. Elsewhere, two-time defending Asian champions Al-Ahli sit third in their continental group ahead of a match against Al-Sadd in Qatar.
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