Baghdad Clash: Will Ronaldo Boost Al-Nassr as Al-Zawraa Hosts Him in AFC CL2?
29 septembre 2025
Baghdad Showdown Adds Global Spark
Al-Zawraa of Iraq hosts Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr on a challenging AFC Champions League 2 night in Baghdad, with fans eager to catch a glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo up close.
The match takes place at Al-Zawraa Stadium in the second round of Group IV, and Ronaldo, aged 40, could attend for the first time in Iraq.
An Al-Zawraa official told AFP that a 103-person Al-Nassr delegation has been cleared to enter, with Ronaldo among those granted access.
However, attendance remains contingent on a decision by Al-Nassr’s management, and no official squad list had been released as of publication.
Al-Zawraa enter hoping to sustain momentum after opening the competition with a 2-0 win away at Goa India.
The team, runner-up last season and holder of 14 Iraqi titles, has started the current campaign with mixed results, including draws against Al-Talaba and Al-Karama.
New signings include Jordanian Abdullah Nasib, Razq Beni Hanani, Nizar Rashdan, Bahraini Mehdi Hamidan, Cameroonian Clarence Betang, and Nigerian Ibrahim Tomio, along with further additions in midfield and attack. The squad remains anchored by captain Jalal Hassan and veteran goalkeeper, with coach Abdul Ghani Shah stressing improved balance and consistency.
Al-Nassr, who began with a 5-0 win over Tajikistan’s Istiklol, rely on a star-studded roster led by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, including Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman, and Inigo Martinez.
Shah noted that Ronaldo’s global stature adds value to any fixture, but he emphasized that the focus should stay on Al-Nassr as a team, while fans’ presence could provide extra motivation for the home side.
Historically, Zawraa trailed Al-Nassr 1-2 in a 2023 AFC CL group stage clash in Karbala when Ronaldo was not with the Saudi side.
Captain Jalal Hassan told AFP that playing in front of a large home crowd intensifies responsibility, but the squad’s mix of international talent and local players provides a solid platform to compete strongly if cohesion remains high.
In summary, the match is a meaningful test for both teams. Ronaldo’s potential appearance is a bonus for the spectacle, but the focus for Zawraa is sustained performance and momentum in a tough continental campaign.
Punchline 1: If Ronaldo scores, the stadium lights might dim to save energy—great for dramatic replays, terrible for the power bill.
Punchline 2: If not, at least the bench will have Ronaldo-level swagger while the defenders pretend the ball is a VIP guest too.
