Cristiano Ronaldo was not at his best against Al-Hilal. Other than a dismissed goal, he was barely involved in the game. Perhaps, he was not at his peak form following his injury against Persepolis. Regardless, it seems Al Nassr have chosen to drop their talisman in their upcoming Champions League clash.

The match against Al Hilal was a frustrating one for Luis Castro and his side. Despite enjoying 64% of the possession, they could not find the finishing touches. Perhaps, that game could have played a part in Ronaldo being dropped against FC Istiklol Dushanbe.

Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss Al Nassr’s Champions League Clash

As per recent reports, Cristiano Ronaldo will be dropped for the tie against Tajik club FC Istiklol Dushanbe. Al Nassr is believed to be resting their talisman as they have already qualified for the Champions League knockout ties. With 4 wins in 5 games, Al Nassr is first in their CL group and the upcoming match does not impact their knockout aspirations. Hence, it does seem like a good choice to rest the soon-to-be 39-year-old Portuguese star.

Also, Ronaldo has not been as influential in the Champions League compared to the SPL. While he remains the top scorer in the SPL, there are 10+ players with more goals in the CL. Moreover, Sadio Mane’s recent form as well as players like Otavio and Talisca allows the Saudi side to rest their captain. A recent tweet has just confirmed Ronaldo’s absence from the game.

Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo Loses His Nerves and Hints at Referee Being Bought After Al Nassr’s Defeat vs Al Hilal: Reports

Likewise, the game against Al Hilal was his first one after recovering from an injury. Throughout the match, Ronaldo did not look to be moving freely and was seen frustrated at times. Hence, this begs the question of whether CR7 was rushed back from his injury.

Was Ronaldo fully fit for the Al Hilal tie?

Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a neck bruise injury in the CL clash against Persepolis. He suffered the injury after colliding with the opposite goalkeeper while attempting an aerial duel. Ronaldo did not complete the match and this led to concerns over his participation against Al Hilal.

After reportedly undergoing physical therapy treatment, the Portuguese star reported to training just before the match. However, judging from his display, it does not seem like he has regained full fitness. Considering he has already played 20 games this season, Al Nassr will need to manage the workload on the 38-year-old.

What are your thoughts on Ronaldo’s dropping? Let us know in the comments below.

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