Postecoglou Leaves Out Ronaldo in Al-Nassr's Line-up Change
Listen to the story
Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has surprised fans by altering the club's line-up for their AFC Champions League Elite fixture against Pakhtakor, most notably by leaving out star forward Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting team.
The exclusion of Ronaldo, one of the most recognisable footballers in the world, has drawn significant attention from fans and media covering the Saudi Arabian side's progress in Asia's premier club competition.
According to reports, Postecoglou is leaning toward making two changes to his squad for the away trip to face Pakhtakor, though full details of the new line-up had not been confirmed before kick-off.
Interest in the match extended beyond the team news itself, with many fans searching for information on live streaming options and how to watch the fixture on television in their region.
Postecoglou, an Australian coach who has previously managed clubs in Europe, took charge of Al-Nassr this season and has been adjusting the squad as he settles into the role.
Al-Nassr, which plays in the Saudi Pro League, has attracted global interest since Ronaldo joined the club, and any decision involving the Portuguese forward tends to generate headlines.
The match against Pakhtakor forms part of the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite, a competition that brings together top clubs from across Asia to compete for continental honours.
While specific reasons for Ronaldo's exclusion were not detailed in initial reports, such rotation decisions are common in football, particularly when managing player fitness across a demanding schedule of domestic and continental fixtures.
Fans will now be watching closely to see how Al-Nassr performs without their biggest star in the starting eleven, and whether Postecoglou's tactical approach pays off against Pakhtakor on the road.
The result of the match, along with further comments from Postecoglou on his selection choices, is expected to shape discussion around the team's direction in the competition going forward.
Vocabulary7 words
- line-up
- the group of players chosen to start a match
- exclusion
- the act of not including someone in a team
- live streaming
- watching a video online at the same time it happens
- squad
- all the players available to a team
- rotation
- changing which players play in each match
- fixture
- a sports match set for a specific date
- continental
- relating to a large area like Asia or Europe
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the starting team 2. Australian 3. False
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Discussion questions
- What factors might influence a coach's decision to rotate players in a demanding schedule?
- How do you think star players react to being left out of a starting line-up?
- Why might international competitions like the AFC Champions League Elite attract global media attention?
- Do you think a team's performance depends more on individual stars or overall tactics? Explain your view.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.