By Akshay - May 11, 2025 11:27 PM
Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo will be rested for the Saudi Pro League trip to Al-Akhdoud on Monday (May 12). Stefano Pioli's side are fourth in the standings with four games remaining.
Ronaldo and his side lost 3-2 to top-placed Al-Ittihad in midweek. The hosts took a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to efforts from Sadio Mane and Ayman Yahya.
However, Al-Ittihad turned the game around in the second half when Karim Benzema scored an equaliser in the 49th minute followed by N'Golo Kante's equaliser three minutes later. Just when it looked like the two teams would settle for a draw, Houssem Aouar sealed a dramatic win in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Despite Moussa Diaby's dismissal three minutes later, the visitors held on to secure the three points and extend their six-point lead at the top.
It has now been revealed that Ronaldo, who has not scored in his last two league outings - both of which Pioli's side have lost - will not play at Al Akhod. According to media personality Ali AlAbdallah (via Al Nassr Zone ), Pioli has opted to rest his top attacker.
? @Ali_alabdallh ?
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) May 11, 2025
Stefano Pioli has decided to rest Cristiano Ronaldo for tomorrow’s game against Al Akhdoud. pic.twitter.com/hZCLKOsw6p
Ronaldo's side are fourth with 60 points from 30 matches, winning 18 of them, 11 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
Cristiano Ronaldo is in the midst of a solid, if not impressive, second full season with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr, where he arrived on a free transfer in December 2022.
In 39 games across competitions, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has managed 33 goals and four assists. Most of those goal contributions - 23 goals and three assists in 28 games - have come in the league, where Pioli's side are set to miss out on the title once again.
Ronaldo has also scored eight times in the same number of games in the AFC Champions League Elite. However, he had failed to score in his two previous games in the competition, losing 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the semi-finals last month. The Portugal captain's other goal contributions have come in the Saudi Super Cup, where Pioli's side lost 2-1 to Al-Hilal in the final despite Ronaldo scoring.
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