A collective triumph while the star watches
Al Nassr did what he had to do. Without its most media figure on the field, the Saudi team sealed its place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League 2 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Arkadag of Turkmenistan.
The overall score ended up being 2-0. Mission accomplished, but with a detail that captures everyone’s attention.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, watched the entire match from the stands.
The Portuguese returned on Saturday after missing three games in a row. The local media point to a clear club strategy: reserve the star for the key duels of the Saudi Pro League and the decisive phases of the Asian Champions League.
The next appointment already has a date. Al Nassr will face Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates on March 3 in the first leg of the quarterfinals.
The continental panorama is defined
Meanwhile, in the elite (the AFC Champions League Elite), Japan and South Korea demonstrate their power with three and two classified respectively in the eastern zone.
Johor Darul Tazim (Malaysia) and Buriram United (Thailand) also passed. Melbourne City made history by being only the second Australian team to do so since 2016.
In the western zone, the petrodollar rules. Saudi giants Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad took high positions. They were joined by teams such as the Iranian Tractor and the Qataris Al Duhail and Al Sadd.
The round of 16 of the top competition will be played on March 2 and 3. The machine does not stop.
