Al-Nassr's Bold Move: Chasing Champions League Glory Without Ronaldo
Al-Nassr roll into their next continental assignment with a bold call from Ange Postecoglou: chase Asia’s elite without Cristiano Ronaldo.
Postecoglou blinks first in brutal schedule
The fixtures have come in waves, and Postecoglou has finally drawn a line. For the trip to Uzbekistan to face Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League Elite, he has chosen rotation over romance, sports science over star power.
Ronaldo is not on the plane. Nor are French duo Mohamed Simakan and Kingsley Coman. All three have been left in Riyadh, a calculated gamble reported by Saudi newspaper "Arriyadiyah" and one that underlines how punishing this stretch of the season has become.
This is not a reaction to poor form. Quite the opposite.
Al-Nassr ripped through the early weeks of the Saudi Pro League, winning nine straight before a brief pause with a draw against Al-Ettifaq. They responded immediately, beating Neom and Al-Khaleej to move to 28 points. Second in the table. Level with leaders Al-Qadsiah. Very much in the title race.
Continental recovery and a new test
On the Asian front, the story has already had a twist.
Al-Alami were hit hard on matchday one, losing 4-0 to UAE side Al-Ain. That kind of defeat can leave a mark. Instead, they steadied themselves and hit back in the second round, beating Uzbekistan’s Nasaf 3-1 to restore some order and belief.
Their third-round clash with UAE club Al-Wasl was postponed, as confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation, leaving an awkward gap in the rhythm of the group. Now comes Pakhtakor away, a trip that would normally be framed around Ronaldo’s presence and aura.
Instead, it becomes a test of depth and nerve.
Stars rest, opportunities open
Postecoglou’s decision is rooted in one clear idea: protect the players who carry the heaviest load. With league pressure rising and continental ambitions alive, he has chosen to shield his biggest names from further fatigue.
Ronaldo, Simakan, Coman — headline acts who stay behind so they can be physically sharp for the battles to come.
Into the frame steps Abdulrahman Sufyani. As "Arriyadiyah" revealed, he has been drafted into the travelling group, handed the chance to experience a major continental night while others recover at home. For a squad player, it is the kind of opening that can change a season.
The message to the dressing room is unmistakable: everyone is needed, and no one is untouchable.
Walking the tightrope
Al-Nassr are trying to do two difficult things at once: keep their grip on the Roshn League summit chase and push deep into the AFC Champions League Elite. Rotating heavily for an away game in Uzbekistan is a risk, but it is also the kind of risk a club with serious ambitions has to embrace.
They believe that resting Ronaldo and his fellow stars now will pay off later — in fresher legs, sharper minds, and a squad better able to handle the strain of competing on multiple fronts.
The next 90 minutes in Tashkent will reveal whether that belief is backed by depth, or whether the decision to leave their icons at home invites a different kind of pressure entirely.
