Ronaldo and company’s club achieved its seventh consecutive victory, this time in the Asian Champions League and against Esteghlal, with a solitary goal from Laporte (0-1). The Portuguese started and played the 90 minutes.
The departure of Luís Castro from the technical command of Al Nassr, approximately a month ago, ended up causing a real turning point in the Saudi club. Since then, with Stefano Pioli, Cristiano Ronaldo and his team have achieved six consecutive victories, between the Championship and the Asian Champions League, and have shown a clear increase in performance. This Tuesday, in that context, they were trying to achieve their seventh consecutive victory.
Days after a hard-fought victory against Vítor Pereira’s Al Shabab, with a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in added time, Al Nassr was traveling to Dubai to face Iranian side Esteghlal in the third round of the Champions League. Behind them, there was a draw with Al Shorta and a victory against Al Rayyan, something that left the club in a position to qualify for the next phase, but without much room for maneuver for more setbacks.
That’s why many run “like in love”: Al Nassr adds his sixth consecutive victory with a goal from Ronaldo in added time
All in a week in which, as usually happens, Cristiano Ronaldo was once again the protagonist of an interview with a former teammate. In conversation in podcast of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic recalled the moments spent in the Manchester United locker room with the Portuguese player and assured that he continues and will continue playing because “he has not yet achieved his dream” – although he did not clarify what “the dream” is. ” is.
“Cristiano dreamed big and continues playing because he has not yet fulfilled his dream. I aspired to something so high that it is very difficult to achieve. For me he is one of the best of all time. The number of goals he has scored over so many years at this level, the goals he has scored in three major leagues, England, Spain and Italy. He was the best player in each of them. There aren’t many players who can do that. I don’t think any player has done it before him,” said the former Serbian centre-back, who is now 43 years old.
Ready to #ACLElite action! ⚡️
pic.twitter.com/PRs8pZhur1—AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) October 22, 2024
This Monday, Stefano Pioli launched Sadio Mané, Otávio and Ângelo Gabriel in their most direct support for Ronaldo, Brozovic and Laporte also feature in the starting eleven and Talisca from the bench. On the other hand, the Brazilian center back Raphael Silva stood out, who represented Boavista in 2018/19. The first chance of the match came from Ronaldo, who shot from outside the area and slightly off target (21′), and Esteghlal responded before the break with a shot over Masharipov (32′).
At the end of the first half, despite Ronaldo coming close to scoring again in the final moments after combining with Ângelo Gabriel (42′), the game was still tied 0-0. Stefano Pioli made changes just after the break, launching Al Ghannam, Al Hassan and Ali Lajami, but the second half brought no more pace than the first. Talisca entered with 25 minutes left and was very close to opening the scoring, With a strong left foot shot that Hosseini saved for a corner (71′), Ronaldo had another chance with a half-turned shot (75′), but the decisive moment came in the last 10 minutes.
Still in this, still fighting! ???? pic.twitter.com/3cHL2wxtpn
—AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) October 22, 2024
After a corner taken from the right, Ronaldo headed towards the near post for a great save by Hosseini and Laporte, on the rebound, headed in to open the scoring (81′). Until the end, Wesley still shot the post after combining with Otávio (88′), but nothing changed. Al Nassr beat Esteghlal in Dubai and adds his seventh consecutive victory and reach seven points in the first phase of the Asian Champions League, consolidating their place in the qualification zone for the next round.
Cristiano’s attempt is saved but Laporte rejects it.pic.twitter.com/h6mcu9XVGW
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) October 22, 2024
Source: Observadora
