Al Nassr is set to take on Al Akhdoud in a Saudi Pro League 2024-25 fixture at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City in Najran. The Riyadh-based club, currently fifth in the standings with 60 points from 30 matches, enters the game following a narrow 2-3 defeat to league leaders Al Ittihad in their last outing.

Notably absent from Al Nassr’s squad is captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Speculation from sports analysts suggests the decision to rest the star forward stems from concerns over physical fatigue. Ronaldo recently played the full 90 minutes in back-to-back losses against Al Ittihad and Kawasaki Frontale (in a non-league fixture), with his last substitution occurring during the AFC Champions League quarterfinal victory over Yokohama F. Marinos. With Al Nassr mathematically eliminated from title contention, the coaching staff may prioritize managing player workload ahead of upcoming commitments.

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