![Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3WTN5XO62LEYAITVLGV4IP3WWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b70fc8b2745c61f5cf39e2e8594f12c074c297c36405f4e92f33ab1d4e5dafd7&width=400&height=225)
![Al Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the pitch in pain after a collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand during the AFC Champions League Group E match at the Al Awwal Stadium in Riyadh on November 27, 2023. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RNVUVUYQBOFM2H6UPPNHVA7T3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=d948151cd03d8b2a144395fdd7312e3f78119fa2010f2b4762dfac9c4d4bb076&width=400&height=225)
![Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand checks on Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo following a collision. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMZH2KBWFJPCH4H6R6BFUCJQ7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a52d9c327d3dded07bd2ccb1c3145165f8f29857bcd4fddef26f83017e43cd1&width=400&height=225)
![Nassr's Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts in pain after an collision during the AFC Champions League Group E football match between Saudi's al-Nassr and Iran’s Persepolis at the Al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh on November 27, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABQ7O2BDN2O72OOCL4D7AQHFP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=14630471dc9ff1b4bed946c313f1a3ad50386ad2714f57b8cb31a8bcd95df1e1&width=400&height=225)
![Al Nassr prepare to make a change following an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SQTL5VIPOVSMZDY45TV2E66BMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a93802f64232127ba0d94157ff1cfb7545745ab2ad5db5eb74b4115a2be70169&width=400&height=225)
![Cristiano Ronaldo was subbed on 77 minutes as a precaution following a collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IZMTS6QSHQK7CCJ3RPWM7OQHZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=37a86c88ed334146cb39ee25c4607a9eb14fc2cc6616f413b9095bc6027d01dc&width=400&height=225)
![Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score before being substituted but Al Nassr were confirmed as Group E winners following a 0-0 draw with Persepolis. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JL6VIUC6MOY7K7ZZJNJCVWG2DM.jpg?smart=true&auth=512a590538b4e8a85a883a5156f3a9992c0b6525d998bf5612111473218e0c9c&width=400&height=225)
![Cristiano Ronaldo lines up a shot against Persepolis. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W5I4HRW6X7N524ASM46IAP6DJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cabb743f6b72e8dbc98d6158e272b471e1dbfcf7322c16aad8a9d94d02e00fa1&width=400&height=225)
![Al Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo in action. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLMPHVOJEXOOHWCM357DV53XQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=aabd19d39f3eb260f7973ddc18ec5c234b1cc9da72e01ec9a4c4c6cf52220d5e&width=400&height=225)
![Persepolis' Georgian defender Giorgi Gvelesiani marks Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OKKTXKI5JIPWYNM5GN5Q6PBSUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b571a1d77bf229daee535c5b596ed959598b01e71462c0db03e8cb4ac5557dc9&width=400&height=225)
![Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3WTN5XO62LEYAITVLGV4IP3WWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b70fc8b2745c61f5cf39e2e8594f12c074c297c36405f4e92f33ab1d4e5dafd7&width=400&height=225)
![Al Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the pitch in pain after a collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand during the AFC Champions League Group E match at the Al Awwal Stadium in Riyadh on November 27, 2023. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RNVUVUYQBOFM2H6UPPNHVA7T3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=d948151cd03d8b2a144395fdd7312e3f78119fa2010f2b4762dfac9c4d4bb076&width=400&height=225)
![Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand checks on Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo following a collision. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMZH2KBWFJPCH4H6R6BFUCJQ7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a52d9c327d3dded07bd2ccb1c3145165f8f29857bcd4fddef26f83017e43cd1&width=400&height=225)
![Nassr's Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts in pain after an collision during the AFC Champions League Group E football match between Saudi's al-Nassr and Iran’s Persepolis at the Al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh on November 27, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABQ7O2BDN2O72OOCL4D7AQHFP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=14630471dc9ff1b4bed946c313f1a3ad50386ad2714f57b8cb31a8bcd95df1e1&width=400&height=225)
![Al Nassr prepare to make a change following an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SQTL5VIPOVSMZDY45TV2E66BMU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a93802f64232127ba0d94157ff1cfb7545745ab2ad5db5eb74b4115a2be70169&width=400&height=225)
![Cristiano Ronaldo was subbed on 77 minutes as a precaution following a collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IZMTS6QSHQK7CCJ3RPWM7OQHZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=37a86c88ed334146cb39ee25c4607a9eb14fc2cc6616f413b9095bc6027d01dc&width=400&height=225)
![Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score before being substituted but Al Nassr were confirmed as Group E winners following a 0-0 draw with Persepolis. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JL6VIUC6MOY7K7ZZJNJCVWG2DM.jpg?smart=true&auth=512a590538b4e8a85a883a5156f3a9992c0b6525d998bf5612111473218e0c9c&width=400&height=225)
![Cristiano Ronaldo lines up a shot against Persepolis. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W5I4HRW6X7N524ASM46IAP6DJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cabb743f6b72e8dbc98d6158e272b471e1dbfcf7322c16aad8a9d94d02e00fa1&width=400&height=225)
![Al Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo in action. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLMPHVOJEXOOHWCM357DV53XQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=aabd19d39f3eb260f7973ddc18ec5c234b1cc9da72e01ec9a4c4c6cf52220d5e&width=400&height=225)
![Persepolis' Georgian defender Giorgi Gvelesiani marks Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OKKTXKI5JIPWYNM5GN5Q6PBSUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b571a1d77bf229daee535c5b596ed959598b01e71462c0db03e8cb4ac5557dc9&width=400&height=225)
![Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3WTN5XO62LEYAITVLGV4IP3WWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b70fc8b2745c61f5cf39e2e8594f12c074c297c36405f4e92f33ab1d4e5dafd7&width=400&height=225)
Cristiano Ronaldo expected to shake off neck injury to be fit for Riyadh derby
Al Nassr captain, 38, was withdrawn from the Asian Champions League match against Persepolis following collision with opposition goalkeeper
![John McAuley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F42fdb821-a1ba-456f-980a-444e78c14d20.png?smart=true&auth=e06a33d0c3a9b91f69d2f6f0423c3e38ec6692b751de87539e969acaa5c3893f&width=70&height=70)
John McAuley
November 28, 2023
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