Al Nassr has never been in a ‘no Cristiano Ronaldo no problem’ phase. They depend so much on the Portuguese skipper that they either lose in his absence or narrowly progress. The Knights of Najd’s last outing against a tier-two side like Al Hazm is a testament to that. They snapped their lead, and it took a dramatic late winner for the yellow team to progress. With Ronaldo out in Al Nassr’s last game, fans wonder if the Riyadh-based outfit will have to walk on eggshells again as they face Al Wehda this weekend in the Saudi League.

Ronaldo contracted a viral infection earlier this month. But he recovered and returned to score in Al Nassr’s 3-0 rout of Al Ettifaq. Yet, the superstar was rested in the King Cup of Champions game against Al Hazm. So what’s going on? Is he injured? Let’s see.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo return to the pitch in the Al Nassr-Al Wehda game?

Al Nassr’s new coach Stefano Pioli has perhaps rested Cristiano Ronaldo during the Al Hazm match to enable him to recover fully from the virus. Other than that, there’s no reason to give the Portuguese star an off. He isn’t suffering any injury. Neither was he risking a suspension. Besides, Pioli must have been aware that he could afford to keep CR7 out in the last game, as it was just the beginning of the King Cup and Al Hazm was a less competitive side. But since the Al Wehda clash is an SPL tie, and Al Nassr can’t go down any further in the league table, it is paramount that Ronaldo plays.

So, we could see Pioli start the 5x-Ballon d’Or winner during the Al Wehda game. Meanwhile, Al Nassr’s next match against Al Rayyan is far more crucial as it is an AFC Champions League game. So, there’s also a chance for Ronaldo to either return to the bench or come off the bench, considering he would need to preserve more energy for the Champions League game.

Now, let’s see what awaits Ronaldo and the Knights of Najd after the Al Wehda game.

What next for Ronaldo and Al Nassr?

Unlike last season, Al Nassr has failed to register a dominant start in the Saudi Pro League. Their bitter rival, Al Hilal, remains atop the league table as usual. Al Nassr, struggling as the league’s fifth seed, would need more than four points to close their gap with Al Hilal. If the Al Wehda game goes winless, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. could again flirt with the idea of having to play second fiddle to Al Hilal in yet another Saudi League season.

The Al Rayyan in the AFC Champions League game is more crucial for them, considering it will determine their stay in the AFC Champions League. Their CL opener had ended as a lackluster draw. If the Knights lose against Al Rayyan, they would once again jeopardize Ronaldo’s Champions League dreams. After this CL game on September 30, Al Nassr plays Al Orobah on October 04, within a week’s gap. That Saudi League tie again is crucial in determining the yellow team’s place on the table.

So there’s no wonder that Pioli rested Ronaldo. Indeed, a 39-year-old must need some time off before he goes on a rampage in three heavyweight games each week.