Al Nassr Star Left Bloodied After Tackle as Cristiano Ronaldo Ends 2023 With a Win

The conclusion of an epic 2023 was not without injury for Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in scoring a goal for his team but could not help watching one of his teammates struggle to stand on the field. In what seems to be an injury-laden game for the team, Al Nassr will definitely smile at their situation eventually.

The game displayed the power and panache of the team from Riyadh as it came from a goal down to keep their number two spot on the table. But the team will have to do a bit more than usual to get past Al Hilal for the trophy this season. However, the team has a lot of positives to enter the next phase of the season.

Al Nassr star was seen on the ground bleeding against Al Taawoun

Intense games in soccer can always be risky. Playing against a team like Al Nassr would require you to give everything in the game. In one such incident, a tackle on Otavio by Al Taawoun defender Awn Al-Saluli saw the 28-year-old bleeding on the pitch and not standing up. Thankfully, the injury did not hamper the player’s stay on the pitch.

Awn Al-Saluli, in the 22nd minute, had a huge lunge straight into the Portuguese international. The defender was not given a yellow initially, but later in the 44th minute, he was given one for another foul. This was the first yellow for the Saudi international this season, but it proved to be harsh on Otavio, who has been an important addition for Al Nassr in the attacking midfield.

The player, however, showed some strong grit in the game. Continuing post-injury, the star also scored a goal in the 49th minute from inside the box to make it 3-1 to the away team. Otavio joined Al Nassr from Porto FC in a deal worth $65 million for a three-year contract until 2026. Despite struggles, the player scored five goals and provided four assists, adding good value to their successful 2023.

Desirable end to the year for Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr

Yesterday’s game against Al Taawoun was a small sample of what Al Nassr has done this season. The team had a miserable start, losing the initial two games, but came back brilliantly with a 20-game unbeaten streak. It was a great year for Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished with a massive 54 goals after his injury-time header completed the game.

READ MORE – Cesc Fabregas Defends Fernando Santos’ Decision to Bench Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup

Yesterday’s 4-1 victory was a testament to how well the team has gelled as a unit, with Luis Castro and Ronaldo leading the club impeccably. The team will finish second on the Saudi Pro League table and also head to the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League in February, unbeaten in the group stage.

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