Cristiano Ronaldo is missing from Al-Nassr squad for today’s match against Al-Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo was, as expected, not named on the team sheet for of Al-Nassr match against Al-Riyadh this afternoon.
Reports suggested earlier today that the Portugal international was indeed on strike. after making himself unavailable for the match against cross-town rivals Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction is believed to stem from what he perceives as an imbalance in the way the club’s majority shareholder – the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund – has supported Al-Nassr compared to the other clubs they own, namely Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad.
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the final straw was the announcement that Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema was set to join Al-Hilal after failing to negotiate a new deal at Al-Ittihad.
Al-Hilal leads the Saudi Pro League with three points ahead of Al-Nassr and Ronaldo apparently believes it would give his title rivals a helping hand by having Benzema on board.
Al-Riyadh has no intention of winning the title and is simply trying to stay in the elite. They haven’t won since October and sit fourth from bottom, one place above the relegation zone.
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AL-RIYADH TEAM NEWS
Al-Riyadh: Borjan; Barbet, Al Bawardi, M Al Khaibari, A Al Khaibari; Soro, Gonzalez, Al Siyahi; Oktu, Tozé, Haroun
AL-NASSR TEAM NEWS
Ronaldo is replaced by Abdulrahman Ghareeb while, in the only other change, Ayman Yahya replaces Kingsley Coman.
Al-Nassr: Bento; Al Ghannam, Simakan, Martinez, Al Nasser; Yahya, Mané, Angelo, Al Hassan; Felix, Ghareeb
How to watch Al-Riyadh vs. Al Nassr
Al-Riyadh vs Al-Nassr kicks off at 3:15pm UK time. It is not available on UK television but can be streamed via the Pro League YouTube Channel.
Statistics for Al-Riyadh v Al-Nassr
- Al-Riyadh have conceded 38 goals in the Pro League this season, joint-worst with Al-Najma.
- They haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 13 matches.
- The reverse match from earlier in the season ended in a 5-1 victory for Al-Nassr.
