Al Nassr Triumphs in AFC Champions League Elite Debut Under Stefano Pioli

In a momentous debut under new manager Stefano Pioli, Al Nassr marked a successful outing in the AFC Champions League Elite by securing a 2-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Rayyan on Monday. The match took place at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, where weather conditions were favorable for a highly anticipated game.

The Saudi Arabian team’s first goal came from Sadio Mane, who struck just before halftime with a well-executed header. The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich player capitalized on a precise cross from Sultan Al Ghannam, demonstrating his offensive acumen.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was absent in Al Nassr’s 1-1 draw against Iraqi club Al Shorta due to health issues the previous week, made his seasonal debut in this competition with significant impact. Despite having a goal disallowed earlier in the second half due to narrowly being called offside, Ronaldo managed to solidify Al Nassr’s lead with a stunning left-footed strike at the 76-minute mark, after receiving a pass from Abdulrahman Ghareeb.

Al Nassr experienced a tense moment late in the game when Brazilian forward Roger Guedes scored for Al Rayyan. Guedes tapped in a delivery from Aschraf Bencharki, which momentarily unnerved the hosts. Nevertheless, Al Nassr held firm to earn three points, bringing their tally to four from their opening two matches.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, Saudi counterparts Al Ahli celebrated a 2-0 win over UAE champions Al Wasl. Riyad Mahrez was instrumental, scoring an early goal and assisting the second with a corner that met Roger Ibanez’s head. This victory provided some relief for Al Ahli’s manager Matthias Jaissle amidst recent criticisms.

In Doha, Al Sadd overcame Iran’s Esteghlal with a 2-0 win, courtesy of an own goal by the visiting goalkeeper and a penalty by Akram Afif. Moreover, Iran’s Persepolis were held to a 1-1 draw by Pakhtakor FC, despite taking an early lead at Shahr-E Qods Stadium.

The AFC Champions League Elite, which has recently undergone rebranding, features a total of 24 teams divided equally between West and East Asia. Teams will compete in a home-and-away format, with the top eight from each region advancing to the knockout stages. The tournament’s winner will receive a substantial prize, increased from $4 million to $10 million this season.