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Cristiano Ronaldo is suspended and will not feature when Al-Nassr play host to Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, April 19. The Portugal superstar picked up a red card in the previous game which will see him suspended for a game.
Al-Nassr suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of rivals Al-Hilal in the semifinals of the Saudi Super Cup last time around. Ronaldo saw a straight red card in the dying moments of the game when he elbowed Ali Al-Bulayhi following a tussle.
Luis Castro's side will now be without their talismanic forward for their home game against Al-Fayha. This goes with the long-term absence of Brazil forward Anderson Talisca, who is on the sidelines with a muscular injury.
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Al-Nassr therefore will be relying on Sadio Mane to lead the attack on Friday evening. The former Liverpool star could be partnered alongside the likes of Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Otavio in attack.
As things stand, Al-Nassr are second in the standings, 12 points behind league leaders Al-Hilal. They have amassed 65 points from 27 matches this season in the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Fayha, on the other hand, are ninth in the table having picked 35 points from 27 matches. Their 2-1 win against Al-Okhdood last time around was their first win after two consecutive defeats in the league.
Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo had the upper hand over Al-Fayha earlier this season
Cristiano Ronaldo will be a huge miss for the Riyadh giants as they look to maintain their slim title chances this season. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is the club's leading goalscorer and assists provider this season. Ronaldo has contributed 36 goals and 12 assists from 37 matches across all competitions.
Ronaldo and his side have won all three outings against Al-Fayha this season. One of them came in the league and the other two came in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League.
The Knights of Najd secured a 3-1 win over Al-Fayha in the league back in October. Cristiano Ronaldo only registered an assist on that occasion with Anderson Talisca scoring a brace and Otavio also getting on the scoresheet.
Al-Nassr got the better of Al-Fayha in the AFC Champions League as they secured a 3-0 aggregate win in the Round of 16. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal in both legs of the ties. He scored the solitary goal in the first leg away from home before scoring the second goal in the second leg at home.
