Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension and could not prevent Al-Nassr losing to Al-Ain 1-0 in the first leg of their Asian Champions League quarterfinal on Monday.
2023/2024 AFC Champions League
1-0
A first half goal from Moroccan forward Soufiane Rahimi was enough for one-time champion Al-Ain to have the advantage in the return leg in Riyadh next Monday.
Ronaldo was fresh after missing a Saudi Pro League match on Thursday as punishment for making an alleged offensive gesture during the previous game against Al-Shabab.
Video appeared to show Ronaldo cupping his ear and repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his pelvis in a gesture that seemed to be aimed at Al-Shabab fans who were chanting the name of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s longstanding soccer rival.
Al-Ain’s fans did the same but were almost silenced in the sixth minute when Ronaldo went close with an overhead kick. In the final moments, he attempted a lob from the halfway line that was just wide of the post. Another shot from close range was saved by Al-Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
It could have been worse for Al-Nassr as Al-Ain, coached by former Argentine striker Hernan Crespo, had two goals disallowed for offside.
The game ended with Al-Nassr down a man after Aymeric Laporte was sent off in stoppage time for violent conduct. The former Manchester City defender will miss the second leg.
Line-ups
Al Ain XI: Khalid Eisa, Bandar Mohamed, Kaku, Yong-woo Park, Khalid Hashemi, Soufiane Rahimi, Yahia Nader, Matías Palacios, Erik, Kouame Autonne Kouadio, Mohammed Al-Baloushi
Subs: Ahmed Barman, Mohammed Bu Senda, Sultan Al Shamsi, Sultan Al-Mantheri, Falah Waleed, Khalid Al-Baloushi, Hazem Mohammad, Khaled Ali Al Blooshi, Mansour Saaed
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Ospina, A. Behich, Laporte, Mane, Otávio, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Ali Lajami, Ayman Yahya
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Mohammed Qasem, Sami Al-Najei, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Al-Hassan, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa, Meshari Al Nemer, Mohammed Al-Otaibi, Faris Afandy