Al-Nassr Ease Concerns Over Cristiano Ronaldo After Injury Scare in Key Win
Cristiano Ronaldo sparked concern after limping off late on, but Al-Nassr confirmed it was only muscle fatigue following their 3-1 win over Al-Fayha.
The head coach of Al-Nassr, Jorge Jesus, moved quickly to calm concerns about the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo after the forward left the pitch with discomfort during the second half of a 3-1 victory over Al-Fayha.The win allowed the Riyadh side to reclaim top spot in the Saudi Pro League, moving two points clear of Al-Ahli, with Al-Hilal just one point further behind.
A frustrating night for the Portuguese star
Cristiano endured a difficult evening. Early in the match, Al-Nassr were awarded a controversial penalty following an incident involving Mohamed Simakan, but the Portuguese forward missed from the spot, sending his effort wide.
Matters worsened before halftime when an own goal from Abdulelah Al-Amri handed Al-Fayha the lead. The hosts, featuring former Premier League defender Chris Smalling, held firm for much of the contest as Al-Nassr struggled to break down a disciplined defensive setup.
Jesus downplays injury concerns
Speaking after the final whistle, Jorge Jesus clarified that Ronaldo’s substitution was purely precautionary.
“He felt muscle fatigue. After we made it 2-1, I didn’t want to take any risks and decided to replace him. The medical department will assess him, but what he experienced was only muscular fatigue,” the coach explained.
The manager stressed that there is no indication of a serious injury, emphasizing that the decision was made to manage the player’s workload during a demanding period of the seas
Second-half turnaround proves decisive
Jesus’ tactical adjustments paid off. Sadio Mané equalized in the 72nd minute, and shortly after, João Félix completed the comeback when his effort deflected off the goalkeeper and into the net. Abdullah Al-Hamdan later sealed the 3-1 victory.
The coach revealed he anticipated Al-Fayha’s physical drop-off in the second half and exploited it effectively through timely substitutions.
Title race intensifies
The victory strengthens Al-Nassr’s grip on first place, although Ronaldo’s condition will be closely monitored ahead of upcoming fixtures. Despite his missed penalty and early exit, the team demonstrated resilience and squad depth — key qualities as they push for silverware this season.
