Despite Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo sustaining a neck injury during the club’s AFC Champions League match against Persepolis, the club is optimistic of having CR7 available for the top-of-the-table showdown against Al Hilal.
Luis Castro, the club’s head coach, said that the medical team will do ‘everything possible’ to get their star back in time for the clash against the Saudi Pro League leaders.
Cristiano Ronaldo was stretchered off the field in the 78th minute of Al Nassr’s AFC Asian Champions League clash with Persepolis due to a neck injury and was transported to a hospital for examination.
He was commended for his exemplary sportsmanship after he pleaded with the referee to annul a penalty decision that had been granted to him in another incident.
Al Nassr has been confirmed as the winners of Group E following the 0-0 draw. However, they will be eager to have their star player back in action against their arch-rivals Al Hilal.
Coach statement on Cristiano Ronaldo
“The medical team is studying the injury and will do everything to make sure he is ready for the next game,” Castro said.
Al Nassr currently sit in second place in Saudi Pro League (SPL), four points behind leaders Al Hilal, who have are to lose a game.
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Ronaldo leads the Saudi Pro League’s goalscoring charts with 15 goals to his name, four more than his closest opponent Aleksandr Mitrovic. He also leads the assists list with seven assists to his name.
The last time these two teams met each other was in Arabs Club Champions Cup in August. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace that day to hand 10-men Al Nassr a hard-fought victory.
The club has not won a league title since 2019 and knows that a win away on Friday will be crucial in order to avoid falling seven points behind the leaders at the half-way stage of the season.
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