Cristiano Ronaldo‘s team Al Nassr got handed a fresh injury hours before they are set to face Al Ain in today’s AFC Champions League quarter-final. Star striker Anderson Talisca, who scored a hat-trick in the last game has experienced muscle pain in today’s training session.
Per recent reports, Al Nassr’s superstar forward Sadio Mane will have to compensate for Talisca’s absence. Meanwhile, Ronaldo will resume action after serving a ban to miss Al Nassr’s last Saudi League tie.
As per Ariyadhiah, Al Nassr’s medical staff and coaching staff are considering calling back Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic to their camp after Talisca experienced muscle pain. Notably, various reports claimed that Mane and Brozovic will be left out of the roster in the Al Ain clash. Rumors also hinted that Mane had also contracted an injury. Since the club is planning to start him today and they have confirmed no injury to the player, those were likely mere rumors alone.
Besides, Mane played his part in Al Nassr’s last game against Al Hazm. He scored the Knights of Najd’s fourth goal, converting a penalty. Nonetheless, Al Hazm had fired four goals back, forcing Mane and Co. to settle for a draw. Tonight’s Al Ain clash is the first leg of the AFC CL’s quarter-finals. Al Nassr plays the game on the road, at Al Ain’s home, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Coming back to Mane, he does not boast as many goals as Ronaldo and Talisca this season. But the last time, he and CR7 led Al Nassr’s attack, goals rained on the stadium.
When Sadio Mane and Ronaldo’s strike partnership destroyed the opposition
In August 2023, Al Nassr faced a similar situation as today’s. They left Anderson Talisca out of the squad and depended on Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo to spearhead the attack in the game against Al Fateh. It was a slow start for Al Nassr, as they misfired for the first 25 minutes. But in the 27th minute, Mane opened Al-Alami’s goal-scoring riot. It went on till the 96th minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo had scored an impressive hat-trick. Meanwhile, Mane found the net twice. Al Nassr crippled Al Fateh 5-0. Months from that, the duo is lacing up for a knockout tie in the Asian Champions League. Fans would surely expect a similar riot from the two goal machines tonight. However, Al Ain has the home advantage, forcing CR7 and Mane to go the extra mile and survive the hellfire. Al Ain will return to Al Nassr’s turf to play the second leg on March 12.
