Anxiety and anticipation have grown among Al-Nassr FC and its fans following the absence of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo from the team's training session on Tuesday. This unexpected absence comes just days before the highly anticipated "Saudi Clasico" against Al-Ittihad, raising doubts about his readiness to participate in this crucial match.
The “First Park” stadium in Riyadh is scheduled to host the summit of the twenty-first round of the Saudi Roshan League next Friday evening, in a match that cannot be divided between the two teams, especially for Al-Nasr Club, which seeks to continue chasing Al-Hilal for the top of the standings.
Historical background and renewed importance of El Clásico
The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match is one of the oldest and fiercest in Saudi football history, representing a traditional rivalry between two of the Kingdom's biggest clubs. Al-Nassr represents the capital, Riyadh, while Al-Ittihad represents Jeddah, and their matches have always been highly competitive and exciting. With the significant growth of the Saudi league and the influx of international stars, this classic encounter has taken on a global dimension, with millions around the world eagerly anticipating a clash between stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
The potential impact of Ronaldo's absence
Al-Nassr has not issued any official statement explaining Ronaldo's absence from training, which has fueled widespread speculation among the media and fans about a possible injury or fatigue. Adding to this concern is the fact that Ronaldo's absence was not limited to recent training sessions, but also included the team's previous league match against Al-Riyadh.
Ronaldo is considered the cornerstone of Al-Nassr's attack and the team's and league's top scorer. His absence from a match as crucial as the Clasico could significantly impact the team's chances of victory. Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, the Portuguese captain provides immense moral and leadership support to his teammates on the pitch. Al-Nassr currently sits second in the league standings, just one point behind leaders Al-Hilal, making every match, especially against a direct and strong rival like Al-Ittihad, a must-win game.
The coming hours will be crucial in determining the fate of the Portuguese legend's participation, as the fans of "Al-Nassr" hope that his absence is merely a precautionary measure to ensure his full readiness to participate in one of the most important matches of the season, which may play a pivotal role in determining the league champion this year.
