Cristiano Ronaldo is not with the Al-Nassr squad preparing to face Damac on Tuesday in a Saudi Pro League match. The absence marks a notable change for the Riyadh club.
The decision to exclude the Portuguese forward reportedly stems from coach Stefano Pioli prioritizing the upcoming AFC Champions League quarter-finals. Al-Nassr is set to play Yokohama F Marinos later this week.
Keeping the veteran attacker fresh for continental competition appears the primary reason behind the move. This is the second league game Ronaldo has missed this season.
Al-Nassr enters the match aiming to rebound from a recent setback. The team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Al Quadisiya in their last league outing, ending a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
That loss left Al-Nassr third in the Saudi Pro League standings with 57 points. The club trails leaders Al Ittihad and second-placed Al Hilal.
Damac sits lower in the table, occupying 11th place with 31 points. The team recently boosted its position with a 3-1 victory at Al Kholood, securing only a second win in 11 matches.
Historically, Al-Nassr has dominated fixtures against Damac. Al-Nassr holds a significant advantage in their 11 previous league meetings, securing eight wins compared to Damac's single victory.
Damac seeks to end a long winless streak against Al-Nassr, having not defeated them since the 2021 season. Al-Nassr has won the last seven encounters between the sides.
In addition to Ronaldo, Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane is unavailable due to suspension. Sami Al-Najei is also ruled out by injury.
The match presents Damac an opportunity against a weakened Al-Nassr attack, while the visitors look to their depth to secure points and maintain their league position.
