On Wednesday, Al Nasr beat Turkmenistan’s Alkadag FC 1-0 to seal a 2-0 aggregate victory and advance to the AFC Champions League 2 quarter-finals, but Cristiano Ronaldo was absent.
Ronaldo, 41, who returned last Saturday after missing three games in a row amid reports of dissatisfaction with the club’s management, watched from the stands.
According to domestic media, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is yet to win a major trophy since signing with the Riyadh club in December 2022, but is resting for the Saudi Professional League matches and the final stages of the AFC Champions League.
Al Nasr will face Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Asian 2nd Tournament on March 3rd.
In the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite, Japan and South Korea sent three and two teams, respectively, to the East Zone Round of 16. The top eight from two groups of 12 teams will advance to the next stage.
Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim and Thailand’s Buriram United also advanced, making Melbourne City the second Australian team to reach the last 16 since 2016.
The West Zone was dominated by big-spending Saudi clubs, with Al Hilal, Al Ahly and Al Ittihad all finishing in the top four. Iran’s Tractor took third place, while Qatar’s Al Duhail and Al Sadd moved up the rankings along with Al Wahda.
The first leg of the Round of 16 is set for March 2nd and 3rd.
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