"We want a masterclass", "Easy win" - Al-Nassr fans react as Cristiano Ronaldo leads the line against Al-Duhail in AFC Champions League fixture
Al-Nassr fans are excited to see Cristiano Ronaldo start against Al-Duhail in the AFC Champions League, with some predicting the Portugal ace to score a hat-trick.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr face Al-Duhail at home at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium on Tuesday, October 24. They sit atop Group E with six points, having won both of their games in the Champions League, and will aim to continue their excellent run of form later today.
Nawaf Alaqidi returns to the starting XI for Al-Nassr in goal. Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Aymeric Laporte, and Mohammed Qassem make up the defense.
Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Otavio, Sadio Mane, and Anderson Talisca start in midfield, with Marcelo Brozovic missing out due to injury. Cristiano Ronaldo starts as the lone forward to complete Al-Nassr's starting XI.
Fans are thrilled to see Cristiano Ronaldo feature in the starting XI. The 38-year-old has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 12 appearances across all competitions.
One fan posted on X (formerly Twitter):
"We want a masterclass today"
Another fan wrote:
"Easy win"
"I hope this guy is not messing with me" - UFC star Francis Ngannou opens up on meeting with Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
UFC star Francis Ngannou recently opened up on his surprise meeting with Al-Nassr ace Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to GOAL, Ngannou happened to be staying in the same hotel as Ronaldo earlier this year. A member of the latter's entourage met with the former heavyweight champion, informing him that Ronaldo wanted to meet him in his room.
Ngannou spoke to TNT Sports, recalling his experience:
“We were sitting at the Four Seasons Hotel, which is where [Ronaldo] was living at the time. We met one of his guys named Richie. [He said:] ‘Actually, Cristiano is a big fan of Francis.’ Then he called Cristiano and he said: ‘Bring them up’ and they were in the pool and I'm like, even when I was going up: 'I hope this guy is not messing with me'."
He added:
"Then we get up there and saw Cristiano and he was basically waiting on us and I was quite surprised. It's Cristiano, right? We shake hands, we greet each other, like: ‘Hey, what's up’ and he was very cool, very familiar at the same time."
“He was telling me stuff about me and how him and his family, they watch my fight at 4am. I'm like, man, you don't know who really watches you. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't know me! But he knows me pretty good.”
Their friendship appears to be solid as Cristiano Ronaldo recently gifted Francis Ngannou a watch worth 500,000 Riyals. The UFC fighter is in Saudi Arabia ahead of his crossover boxing match against Tyson Fury which is set to take place on Saturday, October 28.