Al Nassr’s Champions League clash against Istiklol was closely followed. Fans eagerly awaited to see how Al Nassr would perform in the absence of their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. The team didn’t disappoint and put in a commendable performance recording almost 70% possession against the Tajikistan club. Although they couldn’t secure the victory, the players and the management received a huge cash lump sum for their efforts.

In all likelihood, Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence would have enabled Al Nassr to clinch victory instead of the 1-1 scoreline. The soccer veteran is expected to be back for the upcoming match against Al Riyadh.

Al Nassr gets cash boost ahead of Champions League knockouts

Al Nassr has been a dominant force in the AFC Champions League and has not yet tasted defeat. With 14 points in 6 games, Al Nassr topped their group and cruised to the round of 16. Their qualification to the knockouts has seen the SPL side pocket $440,000 or approximately 1.6 million Riyals along with the travel subsidy provided. The match fee earned from each of the rounds is different, with teams reaching the final earning the most amount.

The winners of the tournament will receive an amount of $4 million. Considering their current form, Al Nassr could be considered one of the favorites in the competition. The recent match against Istiklol also highlighted the strength in depth of Luis Castro’s team. They lined up without key players like Aymeric Laporte, while Sadio Mane and Otavio were on the bench. The key talking point, of course, was the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad.

Why was Cristiano Ronaldo dropped from the squad?

Al Nassr had already qualified for the Round of 16 after their fifth game. Hence, it looks like the team management avoided taking any risks with their 38-year-old attacker. It looks like Al Nassr made this call considering Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent fitness issues.

Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo Tells Al Nassr Teammates to Win Every Trophy After Loss to Al Hilal – “Last Loss is Only 3 Points”

In the Champions League tie against Persepolis, Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a neck injury. While he did participate in the following game against Al Hilal, the Portuguese star did not look fully match-fit while he moved around in discomfort. Hence, it would be fair to say that the rest would have been greatly appreciated by the star himself in the inconsequential last group stage game.

How do you think Al Nassr will fare in the Champions League? Have your say in the comments below.

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