Al Nassr vs FC Istiklol

Is Cristiano Ronaldo Playing Tonight? Al Nassr vs FC Istiklol Live Streaming Details

Shaan Wadhawan

Published - Sep 17, 2025, 03:15 PM

4 min

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Al Nassr

Summary

Al Nassr kick off their AFC Champions League Two campaign against Tajik champions Istiklol at Al Awwal Park.
Cristiano Ronaldo leads a star-studded side aiming for silverware after last season’s semifinal run.
Istiklol seek resilience, but Al Nassr’s quality makes them heavy favourites to secure all three points.

In the opening match of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 group stage on Wednesday, September 17, at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr face Istiklol (Tajikistan). This matchup between the two clubs marks the third time the teams have met, with the previous match ending in a draw.
For Cristiano Ronaldo and his star-studded Al Nassr squad, this is a great opportunity to launch their continental campaign with success after qualifying for ACL, two out in the Saudi Pro League, finishing third. The Saudi club reached the semifinals of last season's AFC Champions League Elite and will look to go no further than to add a plaque to the trophy list next to their name.
Istiklol arrives determined and in good domestic form. The Tajikistan powerhouse is unbeaten in their four domestic league matches; however, facing Al Nassr in Riyadh will make them a heavy underdog to pull off an upset in this matchup.

Team Updates

Al Nassr
Unavailable: Goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi.

New Signings: An already strong squad has improved with the signing of notable players, João Félix and Dayot Upamecano. Other key players to mention are Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Recent Performance: Came into the match on the back of two consecutive wins.

Key Players: Cristiano Ronaldo will remain the focal point in attack for Al Nassr in partnership with Félix and Mané.
Istiklol
Have a full squad available, with no major injuries worth mentioning.

Key Players: Veteran Manuchekhr Dzhalilov will be crucial in leading the line for Istiklol with his smart play and own experience.

Strengths: Compact defense, disciplined midfield, and counterattacks.

Recent Form

Al Nassr: Come into this match with two consecutive wins. Look strong going forward and have shown improved balance defensively. The attacking trio of Ronaldo, Félix, and Mané looks dangerous.
Istiklol: Have been solid domestically with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five matches. They are also difficult to break down as they are mentally and physically resilient. However, they are facing a much stronger opponent here.

Match Preview

Cristiano Ronaldo will be the center of attention and remains Al Nassr’s key player. With new signing João Félix positioned behind him and Mané providing width, Al Nassr appear to have sufficient quality to overwhelm the deep-lying back five of Istiklol.
For Istiklol, the plan will be to defend in numbers, leveraging Dzhalilov’s experience to keep ball possession and buy time to counter-attack. Their physicality in the midfield and numerical advantage and organized defense should give Al Nassr concern on defense for the opening period, but Jorge Jesus’ side will likely have too much firepower to be held for long.

How to Watch the Al Nassr vs FC Istiklol Game?

The Al Nassr vs FC Istiklol match will be streamed across various platforms in multiple countries. Here is how to watch the Al Nassr vs FC Istiklol Game in different regions.