AL-NASSR are in action TODAY for the first time since announcing the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo but he is NOT playing!
The Saudi side host Al Ta’ee as they sit top of the Saudi Pro League.
With just one defeat this season, Al-Nassr are no doubt favourites against the 7th placed Al-Ta’ee but Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the line-up.
The match was supposed to be played yesterday but the clash was postponed by 24 hours due to electrical issues at the stadium.
- Kick-off time: 3pm UK
- Live stream: Twitter
- EXPLAINER: Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not playing for Al-Nassr?
- Al-Nassr XI: Ospina, Al Ghanam, Alamri, Gonzalez, Alawjami, Gustavo, Al-Khaibari, Martinez, Talisca, Al-Najei, Masharipov
- Al Ta’ee XI: Braga, Fai, Al Sulaiman, Al-Jubairi, Al-Qumairi, Dener, Semedo, Musona, Sayoud, Mbenza, Ali
Keep up to date with all the action by following our LIVE blog below…
Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Ta’ee
45+5 Chance
Al-Ta’ee captain Musona tries a long-range shot but completely misses the target
Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Ta’ee
45+3 Tempo has really slowed down after Talisca’s opener.
Looks like both teams just want the first half to end and regroup in the dressing room
Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Ta’ee
45 Five more minutes of stoppage time to go.
Ronaldo is all smiles on the stands
Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Ta’ee
42 Al-Nassr finally break the deadlock in front of star signing Ronaldo.
Al-Ghanam delivers a crisp cross from the right and Talisca gets the header to beat Braga
Al-Nassr 1-0 Al-Ta’ee
42 Goal!
Al-Nassr open the scoring with Talisca!!!
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
40 Not the greatest match of all time but Ronaldo is having fun from the stands.
The star forward is not on the pitch but very eager to celebrate an Al-Nassr goal for the first time
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
38 Yellow card
Another booking for Al-Ta’ee, this time to Al Sulaiman
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
35 Substitution
Al-Nassr manager Garcia has to make a necessary change with A Qasheesh replacing Gonzalez, who looks to be injured
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
33 Chance!
Al-Nassr star Martinez delivers a wonderful long-range shot and just misses Braga’s bottom left corner
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
30 Major mistakes by both goalkeepers so far in the match.
But both sets of attacks are struggling to finish, would be a difficult story if Ronaldo was on the pitch…
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
28 Chance
Al-Nassr keeper Ospina comes off his line and Al-Ta’ee captain Musona tries a long-range shot but completely misses the target
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
25 Al-Ta’ee ace Sayoud needs a minute after he was hit in the head by a free-kick from Martinez.
Medical staff check him and fortunately he is well and can continue
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
24 What a chance!
Al-Nassr miss an unbelievable opportunity!
Gustavo delivers a shot from the edge of the box and Braga stops it with a lunge to his left.
But the Al-Ta’ee keeper can’t hold on to it and Talisca tries a shot from close range and somehow misses!
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
22 Yellow card
We have the first booking of the match as Al-Ta’ee’s Al-Qumairi desperately pulls Martinez’s shirt at the edge of the box
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
20 The few fans on the stands are making quite a lot of noise despite the poor weather.
But Al-Ta’ee are looking better in the last few minutes
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
17 Chance
Another opportunity by Al-Ta’ee, Sayoud breaks inside the area from the left and tries a close-range shot from a tight angle but hits Ospina’s side netting
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
15 Al-Ta’ee are slowly gaining ground, that previous opportunity has raised their confidence and made them braver.
The visitors are especially dangerous on the break
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
13 What a chance!
Al-Ta’ee almost scored a ridiculous own goal!
A ball comes in from the left and a defender gets a horrible touch in his bid to clear and sends the ball to Braga’s right-hand post
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
12 Chance
Al-Ta’ee break on the counter with Muson down the left and finds himself in front of Ospina.
But Al-Amri gets to him with a brilliant timely tackle
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
10 Chance
Al-Nassr knock on Al-Ta’ee’s door early with a shot by Gustavo from the edge of the box but he misses the target
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
8 Very slow game so far, Ronaldo could really enjoy a lot of success.
Wide spaces, slow defenders and easy movement for a player of his calibre
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
6 Penalty appeal
Al-Nassr are complaining for a penalty after Talisca goes down while under pressure from Al Sulaiman.
Referee waives play on and the replay proves him right
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
5 Not much in the first half so far, Al-Nassr controlling possession in the opening minutes.
The rain has calmed down but the players are struggling with the ball on the grass
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
2 And another quick reminder:
Al-Ta’ee XI
Braga; Fai, Al Sulaiman, Al-Jubairi, Al-Qumairi; Musona, Semedo, Dener; Sayoud, Ali, Mbenza
Al-Nassr 0-0 Al-Ta’ee
1 Just a quick reminder:
Al-Nassr XI
Ospina; Al Ghanam, Alamri, Gonzalez, Alawjami; Gustavo, Al-Khaibari; Martinez, Talisca, Al-Najei; Masharipov
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
