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Ronaldo is set to play for Saudi club Al Nassr as they host Iran’s Persepolis FC for their AFC Champions League match in Riyadh.
Who: Al Nassr vs Persepolis
When: Monday, November 27, 2023, 9pm (18:00 GMT)
The place: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When Saudi Pro League crew Al Nassr FC frequented Iran to enjoy Tehran-dependent Persian Gulf Pro League aspect Persepolis FC in their opening match of the AFC Champions League in September, Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines as enthusiasts and officials scrambled to welcome the Portuguese star.
Followers tracked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s aircraft, waited for him at the airport, chased his bus, climbed a hill to the hotel the place he was keeping, and produced the Saudi club terminate its schooling on the to start with working day.
Tehran’s municipality set up substantial banners welcoming Ronaldo and Al Nassr in various languages, the Persepolis director gave the Portuguese star a handwoven Persian carpet – and seemingly a distinctive SIM card so he could have unrestricted net access – and Ronaldo satisfied with the Saudi ambassador to Iran.
Two months on, the Iranian side are earning a historic excursion to the Saudi cash Riyadh – their initially due to the fact the resumption of diplomatic relations among the two international locations.
The Asian nations agreed to a “groundbreaking” deal, brokered a several months right before the match in Tehran, to resume property and away football matches between club sides after 7 years of competing at neutral venues.
In Tehran, followers were being delighted to have Ronaldo in their midst irrespective of not catching a glimpse of the 38-yr-aged as the match was played behind closed doorways.
“Even though we could not go check out that match stay since no spectators have been permitted, it was however good to have international stars in this article. We have not experienced that for a extensive though,” Saman, a 24-year-old Persepolis fan, advised Al Jazeera.
“It does not seem like we’re beating Ronaldo in the team phase, but it would be awesome to get a get in Saudi Arabia,” Saman reported.
Soccer diplomacy has absent much from efficiently for Iran, even though.
Persepolis have been scheduled to arrive in the kingdom on Friday, but their flight was cancelled, reportedly due to the fact Saudi officers took concern with the airline that was being made use of to transportation the players. The challenge was settled and the staff arrived early Sunday.
An early Oct match involving Sepahan and Al Ittihad was cancelled – and at some point declared a 3- win for the Saudi club by the AFC – due to the fact a bust of Qassem Soleimani, the leading Iranian normal assassinated by the United States in 2020, was set up at the stadium.
Standings
Al Nassr sit atop the AFC Champions League Team E desk with four wins out of 4 and only need a attract to confirm their progress to the upcoming round.
Persepolis are put next just after four matches, with a slender lead more than 3rd-positioned Istiklol and fourth-put Al Duhail.
Al Nassr type
The Saudi facet are in prolific type in advance of Monday’s tie at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium and have appreciated a string of wins in both equally in their domestic league and the regional competitors. Ronaldo goes into the match on the back again of a two-objective outing in Al Nassr’s 3- earn more than Al Akhdoud on Friday.
Recent outcomes: W W W W W
Persepolis kind
Persepolis are in the center of a very poor run of kind, with a loss and two draws in their property league and a attract in their past AFC Champions League match against Tajik aspect Istiklol. The club – just one of the oldest and most well-liked in Iran – will search for a victory on the pitch to make up for the 2- home decline in Tehran and safe qualification as 1 of the three very best 2nd-positioned teams from the West Zone of the competitors. They have 7 points from four matches.
Latest outcomes: L D D D W
Head-to-head
The groups have now achieved on four instances in the level of competition, and the Saudi side keep a slight edge with two wins. Persepolis have recorded a single acquire, in the 2015 AFC Champions League, and their assembly in the 2020 edition finished in a attract.
With further reporting by Maziar Motamedi in Tehran.
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