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Today, Al Nassr will play their third match of the Saudi Pro League campaign against Al Fateh. As the first two matchdays against Al Ettifaq and Al Taawoun concluded in disappointing losses, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will be looking for a win in this one. But just hours before the match, they received a triple injury blow.

The timing of these setbacks couldn’t have been worse, as the Jeddah-based club was keen to fly to Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium and get their first domestic win.

Al Nassr dealt with a triple injury blow!

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Injuries seem to have taken a toll on Al Nassr, as the Middle Eastern side has seen a lot of players get sidelined. A week ago, they missed their star skipper, Ronaldo, due to a knee injury. Although he sighed in relief after returning to action during the AFC Champions League Playoff match against Shabab Al Ahli, things have gone downhill for his side.

As per the reports, Luis Castro and his side will be flying to Al Fateh without three big names: Anderson Talisca, Seko Fofana, and Alex Telles. While Talisca and Fofana were already in contention to miss the match, Telles joined the sidelined list at the last moment. Notably, the club hasn’t given any specific timeline for their return.

However, they will certainly be the absentees from the matchday three fixture. Indeed, it is a huge blow for Ronaldo and his side. All three were crucial for this fixture. Likewise, Talisca was in good form after he scored a brace in the AFC Playoff match. On the other hand, Fofana and Telles were much needed to run the tempo of the midfield and defense.

READ MORE: “Ronaldo Follows All the Rules” – Despite Being Allowed to Bend Laws Like Neymar in Saudi, Cristiano Ronaldo Gets Showered With Praises for His ‘Respect for Local Culture

Be that as it may, they would certainly need to conjure up something without the three stars. If they fail to win this one, it would jeopardize Ronaldo’s domestic run, given that it is already hanging in balance.

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Title dreams of Cristiano Ronaldo on the knife edge

Undoubtedly, the beginning of the Saudi Pro League season hasn’t been favorable for the Jeddah-based club. With defeats in their initial two matches, their performance in the domestic league has been far from satisfactory. Despite recently securing a trophy, it’s evident that challenging times have resurfaced for CR7’s side.

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Adding to the complexity, Ronaldo’s ambitions for a championship are now uncertain. The team finds itself at a crossroads. Now, they are left with no choice but to analyze their subpar performance and work hard to regain their competitive edge. Failure to do so will lead to more criticism of both the coaching staff and the players.

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