Al Nassr Defeats Pakhtakor 6-2 in AFC Champions League Without Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr secured a dominant 6-2 victory over Pakhtakor in Tashkent during an AFC Champions League Elite match on Monday. Fellow Portugal international Joao Felix scored twice in the blowout, keeping Al Nassr's continental campaign moving forward despite the absence of several star players.

Prior to the game, head coach Ange Postecoglou opted to leave Cristiano Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman, and Mohamed Simakan out of the traveling squad. The manager explained that the decision was strictly precautionary, citing the heavy pressure of matches and the extensive travel involved in the club's schedule.

The 41-year-old forward was not dealing with any physical injuries. His rest period followed a stellar performance in the Saudi Pro League just days prior, where he netted a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over Al Kholood. That performance brought his career tally to 985 official goals, placing him just 15 shy of the historic 1,000-goal milestone.

Al Nassr entered the continental fixture sitting in the lower half of the western zone standings, making a strong finish essential to secure a top-eight spot and advance to the knockout stages. The team responded with an offensive masterclass on the road, led by Felix's multi-goal display.

The match in Uzbekistan took place against a backdrop of security considerations and regional tensions surrounding Saudi Arabia. Previous fixtures in the tournament had faced schedule adjustments and travel complications due to ongoing regional security incidents involving Houthi rebel activity targeting local infrastructure.

Before Monday's kickoff, Al Nassr had played two matches in the continental competition, recording one victory and one defeat. The emphatic win in Tashkent provides a significant boost to their standing and momentum as the tournament progresses.

Ronaldo is expected to return to the pitch on Friday when Al Nassr travels to face Al Hazem in domestic league play. Until then, his career goal count remains frozen at 985, awaiting his next opportunity to inch closer to the unprecedented 1,000-goal threshold.