Ronaldo omitted from Al-Nassr squad for AFC Champions League Elite trip to Pakhtakor

Cristiano Ronaldo has been omitted from Al-Nassr’s squad for their AFC Champions League Elite Matchday 4 game against Pakhtakor at Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Monday, November 2. Manager Ange Postecoglou has rested the forward for the trip.

Al-Nassr sit on three points from two group games — one win and one loss — and are ninth in the standings, while Pakhtakor have two points from three matches — two draws and one defeat — and occupy 12th place. Al-Nassr arrive in Uzbekistan on a five-game winning run and, on October 29, beat Al Kholood 5-3 with Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick and goals from Angelo and Mané.

Former Australian and Tottenham Hotspur head coach Postecoglou told reporters at a press conference in Uzbekistan that he had rested Mohamed Simakan, Kingsley Coman, and Ronaldo. “Given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved.”

Ronaldo has eight goals in the Saudi Pro League this season, while João Félix leads the league with seven assists.

Ronaldo was left out of the travelling party a week after Al-Nassr’s last league match was postponed in the tournament amid ongoing concerns that the security situation in Saudi Arabia will continue to affect Asia’s major football competitions.

Al-Nassr will meet Pakhtakor at Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium in Tashkent on Matchday 4 of the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday, November 2, with Ronaldo not included in the roster for the fixture.