Uncertainty surrounds the participation of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, in the highly anticipated derby match against Al-Ittihad, part of the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. Despite the 40-year-old's return to team training, doubts remain about his full fitness for this crucial encounter.
Ronaldo had missed Al-Nassr's recent training sessions without any official explanation, raising concerns among fans. He also missed the team's last league match against Al-Riyadh before returning to training on Wednesday evening in preparation for the upcoming crucial match.
Historical context and the importance of El Clásico
The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match is not just an ordinary league game; it is a true Saudi "Clásico," bringing together two of the most prestigious and powerful clubs in the Kingdom's history. This encounter represents a historic struggle for supremacy, and this season it takes on added significance with the presence of a constellation of international stars on both sides, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo for Al-Nassr and Karim Benzema for Al-Ittihad, bringing to mind their famous rivalry in the "El Clásico" between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The potential impact of Ronaldo's absence
The potential absence of Ronaldo will have repercussions not only domestically but also regionally and internationally. Domestically, Al-Nassr will be without their top scorer and inspirational captain in a crucial match in their fierce title race against league leaders Al-Hilal. Al-Nassr currently sits second in the Roshan League standings with 46 points, just one point behind Al-Hilal, making every point vital at this stage of the season.
On the international stage, Ronaldo's presence was the primary reason millions around the world followed the Saudi League. His absence from a match as significant as El Clásico could impact global viewership and deprive fans of a renewed duel between him and Benzema. It's worth noting that the Portuguese star has delivered exceptional performances this season, participating in 22 matches across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists for his teammates.
Al-Nassr is scheduled to host Al-Ittihad at Al-Awwal Park Stadium at 8:30 PM on Friday. Al-Ittihad, currently in sixth place with 34 points, will be looking for a positive result to improve their position in the standings and get back into contention for the top spots.
