Introduction
Al-Nassr made a statement in their AFC Champions League Two opener. Despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, they came roaring out of the blocks to dismantle Tajikistan side Istiklol. It was a showcase of squad depth, attacking flair, and no mercy—a perfect start to their continental campaign.
Match Snapshot
| Detail |
Information |
| Competition |
AFC Champions League Two, Group D |
| Fixture |
Al-Nassr vs FC Istiklol, Matchday 1 |
| Venue |
Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh |
| Date |
17 September 2025 |
| Result |
Al-Nassr won 5-0 |
Goal Scorers & Timing
| Minute |
Player |
Notes |
| 14′ |
Abdulrahman Ghareeb |
Opened scoring with a well-taken goal. |
| 17′ |
Ângelo Gabriel |
Quick follow-up to double the lead before half-time. |
| 59′ |
Wesley Ribeiro |
Put the game beyond doubt in the second half. |
| 89′ |
Kingsley Coman |
Late-game goal, adding gloss to the scoreline. |
| 90′+3′ |
Sadio Mané |
Sealed the emphatic win in stoppage time. |
Key Stats
| Category |
Al-Nassr |
Istiklol |
| Possession |
~76% |
~24% |
| Shots on target |
8 |
1 |
| Total shots |
16 |
3 |
| Corner kicks |
4 |
3 |
| Yellow cards |
2 |
2 |
What Made It Interesting
- No Ronaldo, no problem: Al-Nassr didn’t need Cristiano Ronaldo to dominate. The goals came from others: Ghareeb, Ângelo, Wesley, Coman, Mané—all stepping up.
- Early burst & control: Two goals before half-time set the tone. Istiklol barely got into the game. Al-Nassr controlled possession and tempo.
- Bench strength shines: Later goals came from players often used as substitutes, showing depth.
- Clean sheet: Not just goals, but defensive solidity. Istiklol couldn’t break through.
Takeaways
Al-Nassr’s statement win sends a clear message to Group D rivals: they come prepared, even when star names are absent. For Istiklol, this is a wake-up call—they’ll need to regroup quickly. For fans, the match was an exhibition of dominance across all areas: attack, defense, substitutes, midfield.
By 
