In a recent match, Al-Nassr decided to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of their squad, leading to a goalless draw against the Iranian team Persepolis on Monday. This match was part of the concluding fixtures in the AFC Champions League’s Elite group stage.

The Saudi Arabian side had already locked in their spot in the round of 16 of the tournament, prompting coach Stefano Pioli to field a less robust lineup while traveling to Tehran.

Al-Nassr concluded their group stage campaign in third place within the West group, trailing behind fellow Saudi clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The structure of the competition allows the top eight teams to progress from each of the two groups, which comprise 12 teams divided into eastern and western regions.

In other matches, Al-Ahli achieved an impressive 4-2 victory against Al-Gharafa from Qatar, with notable contributions from former Premier League stars Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez, and Roberto Firmino, along with Brazilian winger Galeno adding to the scoreboard.

Furthermore, Pakhtakor from Uzbekistan also advanced to the next round by defeating Al-Sadd of Qatar with a score of 2-1, showcasing an exciting outcome in the tournament.