Sports
Al Nassr Aims for Knockout Stage in AFC Champions League Two
Hisor, Tajikistan — Al Nassr is looking to secure its spot in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Two when they face FC Istiklol today. With a three-week break following this match, winning is crucial for Al Nassr.
This season, Al Nassr has been nearly flawless, winning every game in the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Two. They currently hold the top position in Group D, which includes Al Zawraa, FC Istiklol, and FC Goa, scoring 13 goals while conceding only one, resulting in a +12 goal difference.
FC Istiklol, on the other hand, finds itself in third place in the group with six points and a -3 goal difference, having scored five goals but allowed eight. In their last clash, FC Istiklol lost to Al Zawraa 2-1, despite Amirbek Dzhuraboev scoring for his side.
In their previous match, Al Nassr convincingly defeated Al Khaleej 4-1, with performance highlights from Joao Felix, Wesley, and Sadio Mane. Felix scored the first goal for Al Nassr during their match at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on November 23, 2025.
The upcoming match will be hosted at Hisor Central Stadium. Al Nassr is under the leadership of Jorge Jesus and is keen to maintain their winning streak. They have obtained a clear record against Istiklol in past encounters, with two wins and one draw from their three matches.
FC Istiklol will seek to leverage home advantage today, though recent performance trends suggest they may find it challenging. Amirbek Dzhuraboev is expected to be pivotal in midfield for Istiklol, requiring a strong showing to propel his team towards possible qualification.
Al Nassr’s Joao Felix, having scored two goals in four AFC Champions League matches, is poised to be a significant threat to the Istiklol defense. Meanwhile, the availability of Saad Al-Nasser is uncertain due to fitness concerns, and Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to rest.
Kick-off is scheduled for 07:15 p.m. IST, and fans can catch the live broadcast on FanCode in India and beIN Sports in Saudi Arabia.
