Cristiano Ronaldo powered Al-Nassr to a convincing 5-1 triumph over Asian Champions League Elite holders Al-Ain on Tuesday.
2024/2025 AFC Champions League Elite
5-1
The victory carried a sense of redemption for Al-Nassr as they avenged last season's semi-final defeat to the same opposition on their way to lifting a second title in the competition.
Talisca fired the hosts into a fifth minute lead with a well-taken effort from the edge of the box before Ronaldo poked home his 908th career goal just after the half-hour mark.
Visiting defender Fabio Cardoso then deflected Angelo's effort beyond Khalid Eisa to hand Al-Nassr a comfortable advantage at the interval.
Al-Ain did, however, pull one back early in the second half when Park Yong-woo's strike struck the post and went in off the back of Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento.
But the result was put beyond doubt late on when Wesley curled home Al-Nassr's fourth, before Talisca notched his brace in second half stoppage time.
After winning five Champions League across his glittering career, Ronaldo is now eyeing a first AFC Champions League crown with Al-Nassr.
The 39-year-old has six goals in eight appearances in the competition, with his goal against Al-Ain ending a three-game goal drought for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo also registered a team-high expected goals (xG) tally of 1.25 towards Al-Nassr's 2.67 total, while also producing more shots (eight) and touches in the opposition box (nine) than any other player on the pitch.
Match Events
0' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
5' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 1-0 Al-Ain FC (Talisca)
7' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
11' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
14' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
22' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
25' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
27' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
31' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-0 Al-Ain FC (Cristiano Ronaldo)
37' OWN GOAL! Al Nassr FC 3-0 Al-Ain FC (Sadio Mané)
42' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
52' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
56' OWN GOAL! Al Nassr FC 3-1 Al-Ain FC (Yong-woo Park)
63' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
65' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
71' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
74' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
77' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
79' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
81' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 4-1 Al-Ain FC (Wesley)
88' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
94' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Ain FC
Line-ups
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Brozovic, Laporte, Mane, Otávio, Talisca, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Mohamed Simakan, Bento, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Ângelo
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Mukhtar Ali, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Ali Lajami, Raghed Al-Najjar, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ali Al-Hassan, Ayman Yahya, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Mohammed Marran, Salem Al Najdi, Wesley
Al-Ain FC XI: Khalid Eisa, Bandar Mohamed, Fábio Cardoso, Kaku, Kodjo Fo Doh Laba, Yong-woo Park, Khalid Hashemi, Soufiane Rahimi, Matías Palacios, Kouame Autonne Kouadio, Felipe Salomoni
Subs: Ahmed Barman, Mohammed Bu Senda, Mohamed Awad Alla, Khalid Al-Baloushi, Yahia Nader, Erik, Matías Segovia, Gino Infantino, Mohammed Al-Baloushi, Mateo Sanabria, Abdoul Karim Traore, Dramane Koumare