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Ronaldo's Al-Nassr to face Dubai club Shabab Al-Ahli today

If Al-Nassr defeat Shabab Al-Ahli, it will give Saudi Arabia four teams in the group stage of the Asian Champions League

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Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. — AFP

By AP

Published: Tue 22 Aug 2023, 12:19 AM

Cristiano Ronaldo gets his first taste of Asian competition on Tuesday as Al-Nassr meet Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai in a Champions League preliminary round playoff with the rest of the continent wondering if big-spending Saudi Arabian clubs can be stopped.

Al-Nassr finished second in their domestic league last season but since signing the five-time Ballon D’Or winner in December, has added more stars this summer. Marcelo Brozkovic, Sadio Mane, Alex Telles and Seko Fofana have arrived from Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Lens respectively.

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The club have lost their first two games of the new Saudi Professional League season and Shabab Al-Ahli may be champions of the UAE but Al-Nassr are still seen as a strong favourite to progress to the group stage, especially as the single elimination game will take place at their Riyadh home.

“In the past, only Japanese and South Korean clubs could compete with Saudi clubs,” Roel Coumans, who left his position as head coach of Saudi Arabian club Abha in the summer, told Associated Press.

“The gap with Saudi teams will become bigger and bigger.”

During his time with Abha, the Dutch tactician grew accustomed to the underdog role while taking on the likes of Al-Nassr. “Now, from ten games in the Asian Champions League, eight will be won by Saudi teams but it is a matter of preparation and you need a belief that you can achieve your ambition and of course you need a little bit of luck.”

If Al-Nassr defeat Shabab Al-Ahli, it will give Saudi Arabia four teams in the group stage that starts in September and they will present formidable opposition for the rest of the continent's contenders.

Al-Hilal, which have a record four Asian titles, have signed Brazilian superstar Neymar and Fulham striker Aleksander Mitrovic in the past week, with Al-Ittihad adding FIFA Ballon D’Or holder Karim Benzama from Real Madrid as well as N’Golo Kante and Fabinho from Chelsea and Liverpool.

Earlier in August, the new strength of the leading Saudi Arabian teams was clear for all to see at the Arab Club Cup as rivals from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and elsewhere in the region struggled to compete.

Saudi Arabia dominated the 16-team tournament with three of the four representatives reaching the last four. Al-Nassr lifted the trophy, defeating Riyadh rival Al-Hilal in the final with Ronaldo finishing as tournament top scorer.

With the Asian Champions League split into two geographic zones until the final, there is some hope for the eastern powers.

Urawa Reds of Japan defeated Al-Hilal in the final in May but need to defeat Hong Kong’s Lee Man to progress to the group stage this time.

South Korea’s Incheon United meet Vietnam’s Haiphong. China will be hoping that both Shanghai Port and Zhejiang will progress to the group stage with victories over Thai opposition, BG Pathum United and Port respectively.

For now though, the focus is on Riyadh and on whether Ronaldo, who won one Uefa Champions League title with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid, can lead his new team towards another continental prize.

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AP

Published: Tue 22 Aug 2023, 12:19 AM

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