Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Al-Nassr supervisor Stefano Pioli says he believes his workforce performed properly regardless of dealing with criticism after a 0-0 draw in opposition to Esteghlal in Tehran within the first leg of their AFC Champions League spherical of 16 tie.
Former AC Milan boss Pioli has did not win 11 of his 30 video games since succeeding Portuguese coach Luis Castro on the Saudi Professional League membership on September 18, together with two defeats and one victory of their final 5 matches in all competitions.
“I’m pleased with the workforce’s efficiency,” Pioli stated, by way of ByanNassr. “We should not overlook that there’s [the second leg] in Riyadh.”
Al-Nassr’s first ever defeat to Al-Orobah final Friday, which got here in opposition to Saudi Professional League opponents who completed second within the second tier final season, means they’re 10 factors behind leaders Al-Ittihad in fourth with 11 video games of their league marketing campaign remaining.
Some followers voiced their dissatisfaction with Pioli on X following the stalemate with Esteghlal on the 78,116-capacity Azadi Stadium, the place Jhon Duran – a £65 million January signing from Aston Villa – went closest for the guests in opposition to the ninth-placed workforce in Iran, hitting a publish and repeatedly being foiled by goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini.
Who can get previous Seyed Hosseini? 🧤#ACLElite | #ESTvNSR pic.twitter.com/TYaBXJR9zl
— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) March 3, 2025
Pioli: ‘Would you like Al-Nassr to succeed?’
Account Al Nassr Zone, which has greater than 61,000 followers, known as for Pioli’s exit and steered he had been employed to make supporters “undergo”, accusing the 59-year-old and his employees of doing a “horrible job” and giving Cristiano Ronaldo’s workforce “no identification”.
“It is advisable to take motion as a result of the scenario is getting worse day-after-day,” the account instructed membership chief government Majed Jaman Alsorour. “Would you like Al-Nassr to succeed? Should you do, then issues want to alter as quickly as doable.”
Al-Nassr host sixth-placed Al-Shabab on Friday (7pm GMT) of their home prime flight. The second leg in opposition to Esteghlal will happen on March 10 (6pm GMT).
An evening to overlook for Al Nassr in assault, however one to recollect for Esteghlal’s defence! #ACLElite | #ESTvNSR pic.twitter.com/rf7RnFbsaR
— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) March 3, 2025
Why did Ronaldo not play for Al Nassr in Iran?
Pioli stated there have been “bodily causes” for captain and Saudi Professional League prime scorer Ronaldo lacking the spherical journey of round 2,200 miles, Al Jazirah reported.
The outlet stated Pioli had not wished to danger a extra severe damage for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who shared a message of assist for his workforce on his Instagram account – the most-followed on the platform – hours earlier than kick-off, telling them: “Let’s go”.
Earlier than the sport, the DPA information company, by way of MailOnline, reported that Al-Nassr had written to organisers asking for the sport to be performed “on impartial floor” due to “Ronaldo’s unhealthy expertise in Tehran”.
Police reportedly needed to disperse crowds who mobbed Al-Nassr’s resort once they visited Tehran membership Persepolis in September 2023.
Ronaldo was not concerned when Al-Nassr drew 0-0 at Azadi Stadium in opposition to Persepolis, who additionally use the bottom, on February 17, though his aspect had already certified for the final 16 by that time.
Talisca: Al Nassr’s ‘actual mistake’
Writing on X on Friday, former Al-Nassr ahead Talisca claimed he “is aware of the place the actual mistake is” on the membership.
“[Duran] is a superb participant and can do rather a lot for this membership,” stated Talisca, who left for Fenerbahce on January 29, responding to a listing of the previous Aston Villa striker’s stats in opposition to Al-Orobah printed by ByanNassr.
“The issue is that you just at all times need to discover somebody accountable for the defeats, however you don’t see the place the actual mistake lies.
“Cease appearing like this on a regular basis. You understand the place the error is, you’re simply afraid to say it. On prime of that, you need to do to Duran what they did to me, to learn others.”
He is a superb participant and can do rather a lot for this membership. The issue is that you just at all times need to discover somebody accountable for the defeats, however you don’t see the place the actual mistake lies. Cease appearing like this on a regular basis
You understand the place the error is, you’re simply afraid to say it, lol
— Andersontalisca (@talisca_aa) February 28, 2025
And on prime of that, you need to do to Doran what they did to me, to learn others.”
— Andersontalisca (@talisca_aa) February 28, 2025
Esteghlal vs Al-Nassr
Pioli made 4 adjustments in opposition to Esteghlal, bringing in Sadio Mane for Ronaldo, full-back Nawaf Boushal for Majed Qashish and wingers Awad Ali Al-Hassan and Ayman Yahya for Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhem and Wesley Teixeira.
The hosts fielded a five-man defence and had 29% of first-half possession, however Iran nationwide workforce newcomer Mohammad Reza Azadi examined Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento with an angled drive.
Throughout an end-to-end encounter, Ramin Rezaeian brilliantly headed Ayman Yahya’s header off the road after Iran worldwide Hosseini had saved out Duran’s shot along with his legs.
Esteghlal threatened after the break when Armin Sohrabian headed over in area, marking a shiny restart after Kyrgyzstan ahead Joel Kojo got here on for Azadi at half-time.
Sohrabian turned supplier to provide a golden alternative shortly afterwards, discovering Rezaeian in entrance of purpose with a looking cross from the left that his fellow wing-back might solely nod the fallacious aspect of a publish.
Ronaldo to face Esteghlal in second leg?
Al-Nassr beat Esteghlal 1-0 via former Manchester Metropolis defender Aymeric Laporte’s purpose in Dubai in the course of the group stage on October 22.
Newly managed by former Crvena zvezda boss Miodrag Bozovic, Esteghlal gained the AFC Champions League in 1970 and 1991.
The oldest skilled workforce in Tehran have gained the Persian Gulf Professional League 9 occasions however are at present ninth out of 16 golf equipment within the division after profitable solely six of their first 21 league video games of the season.
Ronaldo has six objectives on this season’s AFC Champions League because the 40-year-old appears so as to add to his solitary trophy since becoming a member of Al-Nassr at first of 2023, profitable the Arab Membership Champions Cup that 12 months.
4 of these objectives have are available in his final three appearances within the competitors, scoring twice every away to Qatari opponents Al-Gharafa on November 25 and at residence to Emirati workforce Al-Wasl on February 3.
