Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr dealt blow as star man picks up injury ahead of SPL clash with Al-Qadsiah
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr could be without attacker Talisca for the Saudi Pro League clash with Al-Qadsiah on Friday (November 22). The Brazilian has been with Al-Alami since July 2021.
Talisca, 30, has been a solid performer forr them, registering 76 goals and 10 assists in 102 games across competitions. That includes eight goals in 17 outings this season, with six strikes coming in the league, where Al-Alami are third after 11 games, six points behind runaway leaders Al-Hilal.
Having scored thrice in his last three league outings, with his team winning once, Talisca appears doubtful for the Al-Qadsiah clash, which would be a blow for Stefano Pioli's side.
As per NFC1World, Talisca injured his anterior muscle (as translated from Arabian):
"Talisca suffered an injury to the anterior muscle, the site of his previous injury, which forced him to return to the club's clinic."
Apart from leaders Al-Hilal - who are also the defending champions - Ronaldo and Co. are the only other unbeaten side in the Saudi Pro League after 10 games, winning six.
They are coming off a 1-0 win at Al-Riyadh just before the ongoing international break, with Sadio Mane bagging the only goal of the game four minutes before half-time.
How did Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo fare in his last game for club or country?
Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo is coming off a productive outing in his latest competitive appearance. The 39-year-old scored a brace in Portugal's 5-1 UEFA Nations League win at home to Poland last weekend.
All six goals came in the second half. After Rafael Leao had put A Selecao ahead after 59 minutes, Ronaldo doubled his team's lead from the spot 14 minutes later. Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto scored in the next 11 minutes to put the result beyond doubt before Ronaldo completed his brace in the 87th minute.
The two strikes extended the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's career goal tally to 910 - a record tally in the sport's history. With Roberto Martinez's side through to the quarter-finals, Ronaldo returned to his club.
In his absence, Martinez's side drew 1-1 at Croatia on Monday (November 18) to complete their group-stage campaign unbeaten, winning four. Ronaldo has scored five times in the competition, scoring in all four wins.
He will look to continue that form for Al-Nassr, for whom he has scored 10 times and assisted thrice in 15 outings across competitions this season.