Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr will face fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha in the last 16 of the Asian Champions League with four-times winners Al-Hilal due to take on Iran's Sepahan when the continental club championship returns in February.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 1,200th professional match with a goal and an assist as he helped his Saudi League side Al-Nassr to get a 4-1 win over Al-Riyadh on Friday.
The Egyptian side needs to win the game to continue their journey in the competition but they know that it will not be an easy mission against one of the top contenders for the title.
According to reports, the outstanding debts are related to the transfer of Nigerian attacker Ahmed Musa, who moved to Al-Nassr from English side Leicester City in 2018.
"We have very good teams, very good Arab players, but the infrastructure - they need to improve a little bit more. Even the referees, the VAR system, should be a little quicker," he said in an SPL interview. "But I'm happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here."
The 38-year-old ended up with 14 goals in 16 matches, having played every minute of every league game barring a 1-1 draw with Al-Ettifaq last month, when he was taken off in the 84th minute, and Wednesday's final match.
Ittihad are still in the driver's seat on 59 points, three ahead of Al Nassr, with five games left to play. Ittihad also have the upper hand in the head-to-head record between the sides this season.
With five matches remaining this season, Al-Nassr remain second in the league, three points behind leaders Al-Ittihad having played a game more than their rivals.
The defeat marked the second match in row in which the 38-year-old Ronaldo failed to find the net, with Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe parrying away a fierce shot from the Portugal superstar in injury time.
Saeed, wreathed in smiles, met the Portuguese forward briefly before the match, giving him a high-five and a big hug.
Al Nassr now top the standings after 15 games, level on 34 points with second-placed Al Shabab but with a match in hand.
The 37-year-old Portugal international, five-times Ballon D'Or winner, had a couple of chances to score but was well shackled by the Al Ittihad defence for most of the match.
Ronaldo departed Old Trafford last month following an explosive television interview in which the 37-year-old forward said he felt betrayed by the club and did not respect their Dutch manager Erik ten Hag.
Familiar foes face off in the battle for berths in next month's Asian Champions League final as Saudi Arabian duo Al Hilal and Al Nassr.
Al Ahly former star Hossam Ghaly is close to leaving his new club Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia during the current transfer window.
Al Nassr fans welcomed Hossam Ghaly when he arrived to Riyadh to sign his contract with the club.
Sayed Abdel Hafiz, Al Ahly’s football director, spoke on Al Ahly official website 8 August regarding Hossam Ghaly’s future with the club.
Zamalek ended his participation in Arab Club Championship with a 2-1 victory on Saturday over Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr, Zamalek won their first match.
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