Al-Nassr delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the Saudi Pro League (SPL), crushing Al Akhdoud with a staggering 9-0 victory. This historic win keeps their hopes alive for a spot in next year’s AFC Champions League Elite. The star of the show was Sadio Mane, who not only secured his first-ever SPL hat-trick but went on to score four goals. Contributions from Jhon Duran, Ayman Yahya, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mohammed Maran added to the spectacle, making it a night to remember for Al-Nassr fans.
With this triumph, Al-Nassr now sit comfortably in third place with 63 points from 31 matches. Al-Ittihad leads the pack with 74 points, while Al-Hilal trails closely with 68 points. However, what made this victory even more remarkable was the absence of their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Why Was Cristiano Ronaldo Absent?
Reports suggest that Al-Nassr’s head coach, Stefano Pioli, decided to rest Ronaldo due to physical fatigue. The Portuguese superstar had played full matches in their previous two games against Al-Ittihad and Kawasaki, leaving him in need of recovery. Pioli later confirmed this decision, stating, “Ronaldo felt muscle fatigue, so we preferred to rest him and keep him ready for the upcoming matches.”
Despite Ronaldo’s absence, the team’s performance, led by Mane, was nothing short of spectacular. The 40-year-old has been in stellar form this season, netting 33 goals across all competitions. Al-Nassr’s next challenge will be against Al-Taawoun in the SPL on May 16. Currently, Al-Taawoun sits in eighth place with 41 points from 31 games.
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