Al-Nassr FC suffered a major blow ahead of their highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Al-Ittihad, with the confirmed absence of their star player and captain, Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, from the top-of-the-table clash in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This absence comes at a crucial point in the season, placing additional pressure on the "Global" team as they strive to compete for the title.
According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, a specialist in player transfer news, Ronaldo's absence from El Clásico was at the player's own request, without revealing further details about the reasons. This marks the Portuguese star's second consecutive absence, having also missed the previous match against Al-Riyadh in the 20th round, a game in which Al-Nassr secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Historical context and the importance of El Clásico
The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match is known as the "Saudi Clasico," one of the most prestigious and intense matches in the history of Saudi football. The encounter represents a historic rivalry between two giants, one from the capital, Riyadh (Al-Nassr), and the other from Jeddah (Al-Ittihad), giving the match a special character of competitiveness and excitement that goes far beyond simply securing three points. The importance of these matches has increased significantly since the arrival of international stars on both teams, with expectations being high for a special showdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Ittihad stars like Karim Benzema and Fabinho.
The expected impact of Ronaldo's absence
There is no doubt that Ronaldo's absence represents a significant blow, both technically and psychologically, to Al-Nassr. He is not only the team's and the league's top scorer, but also an inspirational leader on the pitch with extensive experience in deciding big matches. Tactically, coach Luis Castro will have to find attacking solutions to fill the void left by Ronaldo, while also increasing the burden on other players like Sadio Mane and Anderson Talisca.
Regionally and internationally, El Clásico loses some of its luster with the absence of one of the world's most prominent players. Ronaldo's presence was a major factor in attracting millions of viewers worldwide to the Saudi Professional League. While the match remains a major event, his absence could affect global viewership of this particular encounter, which is considered a significant marketing opportunity for the Saudi league. Now, Al-Nassr fans are eagerly awaiting how their team will handle this significant challenge against a tough opponent also striving to improve their position in the league standings.
