Al Nassr delivered a masterclass performance in the Asian Champions League Elite, dismantling defending champions Al-Ain 5-1 in Riyadh, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the scorers in a result that severely dents the UAE side’s hopes of progression.
Stefano Pioli’s team, now positioned third in the standings and just two points behind Saudi Arabian rivals Al Hilal and Al Ahli, demonstrated their title credentials with a commanding display. The victory marked their third success in four matches in the continental championship’s league phase.
Anderson Talisca set the tone early, breaking the deadlock in the fifth minute with a precise long-range effort that eluded Khalid Eisa. Ronaldo extended the lead after 31 minutes, capitalizing on Eisa’s failure to cleanly handle Sadio Mané’s strike from distance.
The hosts’ dominance continued when Ângelo Gabriel’s deflected effort off Fabio Cardoso wrong-footed Eisa for the third goal. While Al-Ain briefly responded through Park Yong-woo’s fortunate strike that went in off Bento’s back after hitting the post, Wesley and Talisca’s late goals completed the comprehensive victory.
The result leaves Hernan Crespo’s Al-Ain in a precarious position at the bottom of the group with just one point from four matches. With only the top eight teams from both west and east Asia qualifying for March’s round of 16, the defending champions face an uphill battle to maintain their title defense.
The contrast in fortunes is stark for last season’s champions, who had previously eliminated Al Nassr en route to their triumph. They now require a significant turnaround in their remaining fixtures to avoid an early exit from the competition they currently hold.
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