Al-Nassr secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory against Uzbekistan’s Neftchi in the AFC Champions League Elite this past Monday, though the match was overshadowed by an unsettling start. Kick-off in Riyadh was pushed back by an hour after local authorities issued a safety warning just minutes before the scheduled beginning, adding to the tension in a region currently facing heightened security concerns. Despite the disrupted preparations, Al-Nassr found their rhythm when Angelo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. Shortly after, Cristiano Ronaldo extended the lead with a clinical turn-and-shoot finish following a well-orchestrated setup from teammates Sadio Mane and Aiman Yahya.

While Neftchi managed to claw a goal back early in the second half, a red card for Ikromjon Alibaev and a late own goal from Anvarjon Gofurov effectively ended any hopes of an Uzbek comeback. In other AFC Champions League action, defending champions Al-Ahli reignited their campaign with a 3-1 win over Al-Wasl, while Al-Ain delivered a dominant 4-1 performance against the Air Force Club. As the competition progresses, the race to finish in the top eight of the league phase remains tight, with teams across west Asia battling to secure their spots in the knockout rounds.