Cristiano Ronaldo to sit out Al Nassr's Asian Champions League clash with Al Duhail

Portuguese forward, who has 21 goals in 22 matches this season, rested amid heavy fixture congestion

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring for Al Nassr during the Asian Champions League Group E football match against Al Duhail at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on October 24, 2023. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammate Abdullah Al Khaibari after scoring for Al Nassr against Al Duhail. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo on the ball under pressure from Duhail midfielder Assim Madibo. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo gets set to shoot during Al Nassr's match against Al Duhail. AFP

Al Nassr forward Talisca celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring the opening goal against Al Duhail. AFP

Otavio and Cristiano Ronaldo during the Asian Champions League match between Al Nassr and Al Duhail. AFP

Duhail forward Michael Olunga celebrates after scoring a goal during the Asian Champions League match against Al Nassr. AFP

Sadio Mane celebrates with Abdulmajeed Al Sulayhem after scoring Al Nassr's second goal. AFP

Duhail defender Yousef Aymen attempts to block a cross from Al Nassr forward Sadio Mane. AFP

Al Nassr forward Talisca celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Al Duhail. AFP

Talisca with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring Al Nassr's first goal against Al Duhail. AFP

Al Nassr midfielder Otavio in action against Al Duhail defenders Ruben Semedo and Sultan Al Brake. AFP

Al Nassro forward Sadio Mane takes on Al Duhail defender Yousef Aymen. AFP

Al Nassr forward Talisca takes on Al Duhail defender Yousef Aymen. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature for Al Nassr in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday night, with manager Luis Castro deciding to rest the club captain.

Ronaldo, 38, has been in red-hot form this season, scoring 21 goals in 22 matches. The Portuguese forward grabbed his latest in Saturday’s 2-0 Saudi Pro League victory against Al Khaleej – a result that helped keep Nassr, last year’s runners-up, second in the table.

Five days previously, Ronaldo played the entire King’s Cup last-16 win against Al Ettifaq, with Nassr triumphing 1-0 in extra-time.

However, Castro confirmed Ronaldo would not be in action against Qatari side Al Duhail in Doha on Tuesday, despite Nassr potentially confirming their place in the Champions League knockout stages.

The Riyadh club sit top of Group E with maximum points after three wins. Ronaldo scored twice in the corresponding fixture against Duhail two weeks ago, when Nassr ran out 4-3 winners.

Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward, is expected to lead the line in Ronaldo’s absence on Tuesday.

“Cristiano Ronaldo will not participate in the match because he is tired due to his many participations,” Castro said at Monday's pre-match press conference. “I know that there are those who want to see him, but he needs to rest.

“He is not ready, but we have many stars. I did not decide to exclude the legend Cristiano Ronaldo, but his capabilities decided that. Because 48 hours ago he played a match, and before that he played 120 minutes.”

Nassr are next in Saudi Pro League action on Saturday night, when they travel to eighth-placed Al Wehda. Nassr are currently four points off leaders Al Hilal after 12 rounds.