Al Nassr Play Without Ronaldo as Samu Costa Gets First Start
Listen to the story
Al Nassr will face Al Diriyah in the Round of 32 of the Saudi King's Cup. The Round of 32 is an early knockout stage, where losing teams are out of the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the team's star striker, will not play in this match due to his absence. Coaches often need to adjust their plans when a key player cannot play.
Al Nassr's coach, Ange Postecoglou, has decided to give Samu Costa his first start for the club. Starting a match, instead of coming on from the bench, is an important moment for any player.
Fans across the world are looking for live streaming details so they can watch the game online or on television. Streaming information usually includes the channel, the time, and the platform.
Both clubs have released details about their expected lineups. A lineup shows which players the coach has chosen to start the match, and it can hint at the team's tactics.
This game is one part of a wider knockout tournament, where every match matters. A single loss can end a team's chances of winning the trophy.
Previews of the match usually include a prediction about which team might win, along with news about the squads and possible lineups.
Vocabulary10 words
- Round of 32
- a stage where 32 teams remain and must win to continue
- absence
- not being present at an event
- start
- when a player begins a match on the field
- bench
- where players sit if they are not playing
- live streaming
- watching an event online as it happens
- lineups
- the list of players chosen to play
- tactics
- a team's plan for how to play
- tournament
- a competition made of many matches
- trophy
- a prize given to the winning team
- prediction
- a guess about what will happen
Quiz
Answer key
1. The Round of 32 2. It is his first start for Al Nassr 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Al Nassr will face Al Diriyah in the _____ of the Saudi King's Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the team's star striker, will not play in this match due to his _____.
Al Nassr's coach, Ange Postecoglou, has decided to give Samu Costa his first _____ for the club.
Starting a match, instead of coming on from the _____, is an important moment for any player.
Fans across the world are looking for _____ details so they can watch the game online.
Both clubs have released details about their expected _____.
This game is one part of a wider knockout _____, where every match matters.
A single loss can end a team's chances of winning the _____.
Previews of the match usually include a _____ about which team might win.
Discussion questions
- Why do coaches sometimes give new players their first start?
- How important is it for fans to have live streaming access to matches?
- What effect might a star player's absence have on a team's performance?
- Do you think knockout tournaments create more excitement than league competitions? Why?