In this match, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo continued to be left out of the squad, as coach Jorge Jesus prioritized keeping him fit for the next phase. This forced Al-Nassr to play with many changes in the squad, while the home team Al-Zawra entered the match determined and created many difficulties for Al-Nassr.
Right after the opening whistle, Al-Zawra pushed up the formation and created a series of dangerous opportunities. The shots of Maytham Jabbar, Akam Hashim and Abdulkareem continuously threatened the goal, forcing goalkeeper Bento to show his save. The great pressure caused Al-Nassr to start slowly, creating only a notable situation in the 20th minute when Al-Ghannam shot over the bar, while Joao Felix tried his luck but failed.
The second half became a turning point. Just a few minutes after being put on the field, Al-Khaibari fired a low shot from outside the penalty area, opening the score for Al-Nassr in the 52nd minute. The goal helped the away team play more excitedly, while Al-Zawra was forced to push up to find an equalizer.
Taking advantage of the gap in the opponent's defense, Joao Felix proved his worth with a decisive shot in the 81st minute, doubling the gap for the Saudi Arabian representative. This was also the goal that sealed the result, despite the home team's hopeless efforts at the end of the match.
With 3 full points, Al-Nassr had a perfect start with 6 points after 2 matches, continuing to consolidate their top position in Group D. Meanwhile, Al-Zawra only has 1 point and must make more efforts if they want to compete for a place to continue.
