Al-Nassr return to action in the AFC Champions League when they host reigning champions, Al-Ain of the UAE, Tuesday at Al-Awwal Park.

Both teams met in the quarter-finals on Al-Ain’s route to victory last season, with the visitors advancing on penalties after an aggregate score of 4-4 over both legs.

Match example

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Al-Nassr went into this match on the back of a 1–1 draw with Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, which leaves them in third place with 19 points, six points behind Al-Hilal after nine matches.

Talisca scored in the first minute, and the Global One couldn’t find a second, before finally conceding in the 77th minute to make it three consecutive games without a win in all competitions.

Al-Nassr now return to action in the Champions League, where they have taken seven points from their first three games, following the opening day draw against Al-Shorta with wins over Al-Rayyan and Esteghlal.

Next for Stefano Pioli‘s side are challenging an opponent who ended their Champions League campaign last season, beating them twice after 90 minutes in their four previous meetings.

Al-Nassr have won their last three home games in the Champions League, but a run of two games in all competitions without a win leading up to this match leaves some doubt about their ability to extend this winning streak.

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Reigning champion Al-Ain has had a bad start to the competition this year. He drew the opening match before losing the next two, leaving them in second place in the table.

The Boss were involved in one of the most dramatic Champions League matches of all time in their last outing, ultimately losing 5–4 at home to Al-Hilal despite parity being restored twice in the match.

The UAE side represented the AFC at the first FIFA Club World Cup, but it ended badly for them as they lost 3-0 to Al Ahly on Tuesday, leaving the competition.

Al-Ain remain winless in their last three matches in all competitions and will be hoping to record a second win at Al-Nassr to end this run, while also giving them a first Champions League win of the season .

However, the last time the Boss won an away match after 90 minutes in this competition was in December 2023 – since then they have drawn one and lost four such games.

Al-Nassr AFC Champions League Form:

Al-Nassr form (all competitions):

Al-Ain AFC Champions League Form:

Al-Ain form (all competitions):

Team news

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Al Nassr only has one absent injury for this match in the form of Sami Al-Najeiwho will miss the remainder of the season after recently undergoing ACL surgery.

Christiano Ronaldo has not scored in his last three games in all competitions, a drought he hopes to end on Tuesday.

Al Ain go into this game injury-free, giving the manager a wealth of options to choose from.

Soufiane Rahimi scored a hat-trick in the Champions League defeat to Al Hilal, taking his tally in this competition to four in five games, making him the man to watch for the visitors.

Possible starting line-up of Al-Nassr:
Bento; Al-Ghannam, Simakan, Laporte, Boushal; Alchaibari, Brozovic; Otavio, Talisca, Mane; Ronaldo

Possible starting line-up of Al-Ain:
Eisa; Al-Ahbabi, Cardoso, Autonne, Erik; Park, Nader; Baloushi, Romero, Palacios; Rahimi

We say: Al-Nassr 2-1 Al-Ain

Al-Ain have had a turbulent start to the season and have had poor journeys in this competition. Therefore, we predict a win for Al-Nassr, who have been impressive in this competition this season.

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