Ronaldo Assists as Al-Nassr Dominate Al-Zawraa in Champions League Two
Christmas Eve turned into a football showcase in Riyadh as Al-Nassr comfortably swept aside Iraq’s Al-Zawraa with a convincing 5–1 victory in the AFC Champions League Two. Even though qualification had already been secured, the match still carried plenty of intrigue, mainly because Cristiano Ronaldo finally took to the field in this competition for the first time. And while he didn’t score, his influence was clearly felt throughout a dominant first-half display.
Al-Nassr entered the match with a perfect record in Group D, and that confidence was obvious from the opening minutes. The tone was set early, and by the 12th minute, the breakthrough had already arrived. A sharp move down the flank ended with Ângelo providing the assist for Kingsley Coman, and the lead was deserved. From there, the pressure barely eased. Wesley doubled the advantage soon after, reacting quickest to a loose ball following a corner, and the stadium could already sense the outcome.
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The third goal came before the half-hour mark, with Al Amri finishing calmly after a well-weighted pass from João Félix. Al-Zawraa were struggling to cope with the pace and movement, and it felt like only a matter of time before the scoreline became more emphatic. That moment arrived just before the break, when Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a delightful lofted pass that split the defense and allowed his teammate to make it 4–0. Even without finding the net himself, Ronaldo’s quality was on full display, and his assist drew plenty of admiration.
With the match effectively decided, Ronaldo did not return for the second half, his work already done. Al-Nassr understandably took their foot off the gas, and that allowed Al-Zawraa a brief moment of relief when Ibrahim pulled one back early in the second half. For a few minutes, Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento was called into action more often, as the hosts focused on managing the game rather than pushing relentlessly forward.
Still, the gap in quality showed once more. Coman struck again in the 56th minute to restore Al-Nassr’s four-goal cushion, sealing the 5–1 result and underlining their dominance. The win confirmed a flawless group-stage campaign, with six wins from six matches, while Al-Zawraa progressed in second place with nine points.
For Al-Nassr, it was another statement performance. The team looked sharp, confident, and well-prepared for the knockout rounds ahead. For Ronaldo, it was a quiet but classy contribution, another reminder that even without scoring, his presence continues to shape games at the highest level.
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