Al-Nassr’s head coach, Stefano Pioli, has shed light on the absence of team captain Cristiano Ronaldo in their recent Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Taawoun, held on Friday. The seasoned Portuguese striker was noticeably missing as Al-Nassr settled for a 1-1 stalemate with Al-Taawoun at their home ground, Al-Awwal Park. In a game that saw balanced performances from both sides, Otávio found the net for Al-Nassr, while R. Martínez responded for Al-Taawoun, ensuring the match ended with both teams sharing the points. Following the game, Coach Pioli addressed the media to clarify Ronaldo’s absence. He revealed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was sidelined due to a bout of cold. “Ronaldo is absent because he is suffering from a cold,” Pioli confirmed. As of now, Al-Nassr holds the 4th spot in the Saudi Pro League standings, having secured 64 points from 32 matches played. Despite their solid season, the Riyadh-based club, also known as the Knights of Najd, is officially out of the title race, with Al-Ittihad recently crowned as the league champions. Looking ahead, Al-Nassr is set to face Al-Khaleej on Wednesday in their upcoming league fixture. Related Post:Read more updates on Saudi Pro League at ESPN
